GMU and community reach out to off-campus students

In late August, George Mason University, Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax collaborated to welcome off-campus students to the community. 

Representatives from each party visited neighborhoods where students were residing, and passed out information about living in the community.

“It’s a way to welcome students to the community and tell them how to be good neighbors,” said Traci Claar, director of Community Relations for Mason. 

Six different teams of representatives visited students from the 29th through the 31st in what was called the “Welcome Walk.” 

The teams passed out papers that contained details about trash days, maintaining the property, parking, safety and noise regulations.

“Last year, we only visited houses that we’d gotten complaints about,” said Claar. This year they’re expanding their walk to include as many local residences as possible. 

Elected officials from both the city and the county also took part in the event. 

“I think it’s a great example of the new cooperation between the county, the university, and the community,” said Supervisor John Cook, who represents the Braddock District on the Fairfax Board of Supervisors. 

“We want [the students] to feel a part of things,” Cook said. “The flip-side of that is understanding what it means to live in this community.” Cook also attended the event last fall. 

City of Fairfax council-members, Michael DeMarco and David Meyer also visited students living in the city limits. 

Claar also stressed that the Community Relations office was also a resource available to non-students living in the area. 

“It’s just a way for us that the community relations office exists and that our office is for them as well,” she said. “We want students to see that we’re all in this together. It’s all part of the college learning experience.”