Community Corner

Conflict Management: 5 Tips For Students and Residents

A few handy tips to help students and permanent residents avoid unnecessary conflict

School is officially back in session at the University of Maryland, meaning students are settling into their new homes around College Park. UMd. Police Chief David Mitchell and his department have the following tips to help students and permanent residents alike maintain harmonious neighborly relationships:

5 Tips for Students

1. Become involved in Community Associations to learn about safety/security concerns in the community: There are eight civic associations in College Park -- find out which one your neighborhood belongs to, and get involved.

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2. Work with residents toward solutions to make the community safer and more livable: "College Park is not just a place to party," said Mitchell. "This is a viable, sustainable community."

3. Be respectful: "This is their home," Mitchell said of permanent residents.  "Students should realize this, and treat them like they'd want their mom or dad to be treated." Mitchell also noted that there are many elderly residents in College Park. If students notice that one of their neighbors could use a hand, they should offer to help. "Be considerate and help out. Who knows, they might be a little more tolerant when Saturday night rolls around."

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4. Take pride in the community that you live in and consider it more than just a temporary residence: See tip #3.

5. When in doubt, treat others as you want to be treated: "It's like that saying, 'all I ever really needed to know I learned in Kindergarten,'" Mitchell said. Yep, that still applies, even in college.

5 Tips for Residents

1. Communication is key: Share views of problems so that they can be addressed. If something is a nuisance more than an actual threat, try talking to the students. But if the activity is at all suspicious, don't hesitate to call the police. "If you see something, say something," Mitchell said.

2. Invite area students to community meetings to hear concerns and issues within the community: Fostering a relationship before problems arise can save everyone a lot of trouble.

3. Be understanding: "They're students," Mitchell said. "Many of them are away from home for the first time, and sometimes, they're going to act out in ways that are annoying." 

4. Appoint members on both sides of the conflict to serve as representatives over issues: Again -- communication.

5. Keep an open dialogue with the other community members, and alert them of suspicious activity. Contact College Park's Neighborhood Watch coordinator Kim Lugo for more information regarding your neighborhood's Neighborhood Watch program.


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