By Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations
Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations has recently begun a new pilot program called 鈥淲alk This Way." The program is modeled after a similar program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, which has resulted in a significant reduction in noise reported by members of the Amherst community.
Our version of the program began Sept. 5 and was held from 10 p.m. 鈥� 2 a.m. at the intersection of 10th and College on the Hill. Staff members from , along with volunteers from the University of Colorado Student Government () and other student groups including the CU Men鈥檚 Crew team, have passed out more than 3,300 cookies to students and neighbors throughout the program's two weekends of operation. Staff members and volunteers handing out cookies will be seen in bright yellow shirts with 鈥淲alk This Way鈥� on the front and back.
In addition, the purpose of the program is to inform everyone to:
- Be aware that portions of the Hill and other locations throughout Boulder are comprised primarily of permanent full-time residents
- Know that noise travels easily between densely populated areas and when traveling in large groups, especially when groups are congregating in streets or street corners
- Understand that full time residents are not the only ones who noise disrupts---noise can impact communities anywhere both on and off campus including your fellow Buffs
- Try to travel along well-lit paths and primary walking corridors such as Broadway.
Walk this Way will continue through the end of September on Friday and Saturday nights generally from around 10 p.m. until 2 a.m.
Students may also see members of CUSG taking to the Hill in the coming weeks. Last year, CUSG and started a pilot program based on public health research to engage with students on the hill, handing out pizza and encouraging people to drink responsibly if they choose to drink. This project, "Think Before You Drink," was well received, and is continuing this year. It is hosted on Friday night鈥檚 by the Broadway and College underpass to the Hill and CUSG volunteers will be handing out food, which in the past has included pizza and subs (food varies by week). Food and water are handed out from 10 p.m. until they run out. Volunteers will be identified with name badges.
Both "Think Before You Drink" and听"Walk this Way"听 have been piloted at other large undergraduate institutions and have had a measurable impact in reducing violence, harms to communities and increasing positive health behaviors.听