Loyola Neighborhood News: Lake Shore Campus - V3, I2

Who says students and their neighbors cannot find common ground? On an unseasonably cool Wednesday night on Sept. 7, they did just that while enjoying food and live music at St. Ignatius Parish Parking lot.

The Departments of Community Relations and Off-Campus Student Life (OCSL) collaborated to host the Albion and Glenwood Area Community Social. Attendance was stellar as more than 50 participants filled the lot to enjoy jazz music by the Bradley Baker Band, pizza from JB Alberto's, old-fashioned root beer floats, and to win prizes playing getting-know-you BINGO, Bozo Buckets, and bean bag toss.

OCSL works with students to support them in their transition to off-campus life, and focus on the Loyola community to ensure a positive experience for the students and their neighbors. The department, led by Assistant Dean Clifford Golz, educates students who rent private apartments off-campus to inform them of their rights and responsibilities through seminars and a spring housing fair that connects them with responsible landlords.

Throughout the year, Golz and Akeya Peterson, program coordinator, resolve concerns such as landlord disputes, parties, noise and liter complaints and work closely with the University’s campus safety, community relations, and student affairs departments.

"In my experience, bringing students and neighbors together early in the academic year in healthy ways that create a shared sense of community helps reduce future conflict situations," said Golz.

Summur Roberts, Associate Director of Community Relations who collaborated on the event, agrees.

"It was so exciting to see neighbors show up excited to meet students and really enjoying themselves,” she remarked. “Many expressed appreciation and thanked Loyola for hosting such a fun and friendly event. Ironically, it would have been nice to have a higher number of students attend and we plan to expand promotion in the future."

Members of Loyola's Campus Safety Team also stopped by to introduce themselves.

Following the success of this event, the two departments hope to increase the number of similar events in other areas near campus.

To reach Cliff or Akeya, contact the Department of Off Campus Student Life at (773) 508-8660.