Being Great Neighbors
We’re big. We’re often excited and a bit noisy. We drive cars, bikes, and skateboards and we’re always in a hurry. We’re creative and expressive and enthusiastic. I love this place!
Our beautiful campus is located in a residential neighborhood. Hundreds of families live all around us. For them, our constant roil of energy can be a hassle. Some of our students rent homes and apartments in neighborhoods adjoining campus. This puts them in very close proximity to families with small children as well as seniors and everyone in between. It’s easy to forget about them as we come and go and rush to our classes and worksites.
I know that 99 percent of our Beach community members are respectful to all. Just a few, however, can create a very bad impression that is associated with the entire campus. Managing phone calls from and meetings with irate neighbors and city council members is not my favorite way to serve The Beach. Our University Police and Long Beach Police have important security tasks to perform. Responding to calls about noisy 49ers distracts them from these functions.
Here are my tips for being a good neighbor:
Parking on campus is clearly difficult and frustrating. Finding solutions is always on my mind. If you must bring a car to campus (remember, we offer free bus passes and neighborhood shuttles!) be especially attentive to traffic rules. Watch your speed, don’t do U turns where illegal, don’t cross streets except at cross walks, and of course, never, never drink and drive. Police will be increasing enforcement around perimeter campus streets as a means to enhance traffic and pedestrian safety. If you park on neighborhood streets don’t leave litter, and be sensitive to the residents who would like some space for their own family members to park.
If you have a party in a neighborhood house, please be courteous to your neighbors. Try to manage the number of guests because big parties get out of hand pretty easily. Noisy, drunk students wandering around a family neighborhood is unnerving to all—waking sleeping youngsters, scaring seniors, and generally lowering livability and property values.
When you’re working late on campus—especially in labs, shops, or galleries—remember that in many cases people are sleeping not far away. Babies and seniors often go to bed early and being woken in the middle of the night is no fun.
Consider this message a gentle nudge that each action—caring or inconsiderate—reflects not only on you, but also on your university. On the caring side, thanks for the thousands of hours of community service and assistance you give to Long Beach. I appreciate this so much! Unfortunately, one negative experience can cancel out 10 positive ones. I care about that, and about our neighbors, and hope you do, too.
Go (Neighborly) Beach!
