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USC&A - Fraternity and Sorority Life Virginia Commonwealth University. Being a Good Neighbor. Purpose. The purpose of this module is to provide fraternity and sorority members that live in off-campus residences together with information on how to be good neighbors. Overview.
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USC&A - Fraternity and Sorority Life Virginia Commonwealth University Being a Good Neighbor
Purpose • The purpose of this module is to provide fraternity and sorority members that live in off-campus residences together with information on how to be good neighbors.
Overview • It is great to be out on your own and living in your own place. • It gives you the opportunity to set your own hours and come and go as you please. • It also lets you experience life on you
Introduce Yourself • It is important to take the time to introduce yourself to your neighbors and let them know who you are in case you need help or a problem arises. • In addition it gives you and them the opportunity to put a face with a name. • It may not always be easy to do this face to face so dropping a letter or a note off is another way that you can accomplish this as well.
Off-Campus Member Residences • Think about your organization? • If your having a social event where is it most likely going to occur? • Who are your neighbors and who else who lives by you might be affected by your social event?
Where its going down • How many of your members have private residences where social events are held? • What neighborhoods are these events occurring in? • Who lives around you?
Knock on There Door or Drop a Letter Off • Talk to them • Create a positive relationship with your neighbors. • Let them know that you are planning a social event. • Provide them with a contact phone number and email for who will be responsible at your event. • If you cannot talk to them in person drop-off a letter • Drop it off at least 48 hours in advance. • Let them know when it will start and end. • Provide them with a contact phone number and email for who will be responsible at the event.
Times a Wasting • Give a time frame • Let them know when your event will start and when it will end. • Let them know when the music will be turned off. • Remember no social event with alcohol can be longer than four hoursin duration.
Be Reasonable • Social events occurring during the week may bother neighbors who work. • Remember Thursday night is a weekday. • Know the rules of your building and the ones listed in your lease.
Contain the event • If you are having any portion of the event outdoors make sure to start and end the event early. or • Keep it indoors with the windows closed to avoid complaints about loud music.
Invite them! • If you invite them to your event they will appreciate the gesture. They may or may not come, but the gesture goes a long way. • If they do come it gives you the opportunity to show them the risk reduction measures that you are following that are different than other groups of students.
Clean-up • If you make a mess clean it up. • Do not leave the outside of your house trashed. • Make sure that all waste is disposed of properly. • Make sure your trash is collected or dropped off.
Get Feedback • Follow-up with your neighbors after the event to see if there were problems. • Make sure to also think about how to improve your event for the future.
Resources • Fraternity and Sorority Governing Councils VCU Risk Management Policies and Procedures • http://www.chaptertools.net/site_files/file_1215715513.pdf • Off-Campus Student Services • http://www.usca.vcu.edu/offcampus/ • Off-Campus Student Handbook • http://www.usca.vcu.edu/docs/OffCampus_Handbook_Fall2007.pdf • The VCU Wellness Resource Center • http://thewell.vcu.edu
Contact Us For more information or support please contact: USC&A Fraternity & Sorority Life Office 907 Floyd Ave., Room 014 Richmond, VA 23284 Phone: (804) 828-4685 Email: vcugreeks@vcu.edu Web: www.usca.vcu.edu/greeklife