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August 8, 2002

Purdue welcomes students in New Chauncey neighborhood

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Representatives from Purdue University and the city of West Lafayette will soon team up to welcome students to the New Chauncey neighborhood.

The "meet and greet" team, clad in yellow T-shirts, will knock on doors in the neighborhood from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17. The team will consist of approximately 10 pairs of greeters, including West Lafayette Mayor Sonya Margerum.

Tom Robinson, Purdue Community Issues Team chair and vice president for student services, says the purpose of knocking on doors is to make students feel welcome and to hand out useful literature about Purdue and city services. The students also will be invited to a block party that evening.

Robinson says students seemed to appreciate the gesture last year.

"It was interesting to see the students' expressions as they came to the door," Robinson says. "Everyone was very respectful, responsive and seemed to be appreciative. It was well received."

Robinson says three times more greeters will be out this year so a greater number of students can be welcomed.

"We enjoyed doing it and hope to cover a larger territory this year," Robinson says. "It is a collaborative effort to say to the students, 'We're awfully glad you're back. You're important to our community.'"

Jan Mills, West Lafayette Community Issues Team chair and city council member, says she thinks the effort to reach out to students has translated into a better relationship between students and families in the neighborhood.

"It's markedly better," Mills says. "People feel like things are good right now."

Mills says she hopes the students find a new off-campus brochure produced by the Dean of Students Office especially helpful.

"We hope this makes them feel welcome and helps them get off on the right foot," Mills says.

Approximately 45 percent of the New Chauncey neighborhood consists of rental housing, Mills says. The neighborhood boundaries are Fowler Avenue, Northwestern Avenue, Meridian Street and River Road.

CONTACT: Tom Robinson, (765) 494-5776, trobinson@purdue.edu; Jan Mills, (765) 496-3765, jan-mills@purdue.edu.

NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Journalists are welcome to accompany the Community Issues Team as it knocks on doors. Contact Tom Robinson at (765) 494-5776, or Jan Mills at (765) 496-3765 to make arrangements.

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


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