Being a Good NeighborUSC&A - Fraternity and Sorority LifeVirginia Commonwealth University

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 hours in 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 014Richmond, VA 23284Phone: (804) 828-4685Email: vcugreeks@vcu.eduWeb: www.usca.vcu.edu/greeklife

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