We are spoiled with our living situations at Georgetown. Despite the housing debacles of the last few years, compared to many universities we have sufficient spaces on campus and ample years of guaranteed housing. Furthermore, for those people lucky enough to receive school housing, the university grounds are so compact that everything is less than a 10-minute walk away. As a symptom of our spoilage, when people hear that I live on T Street, they sometimes give me sympathetic sighs, to which I always respond, “It’s like a five minute walk . ” I enjoy my house in Burleith, I like my roommates and, honestly, the only thing to dislike is the incredibly steep rent. As a student, though, there are obviously aspects of my lifestyle that may conflict with the full-time residents of Burleith. Whereas I usually return home around 10 p.m. and study to music, a neighbor with a full-time job may have to go to sleep by 11 p.m. Contrarily, while a full-time resident may dislike the GUTS bus passing through the neighborhood, I recognize its importance in shuttling students and workers.
It is a game of give and take between the permanent residents and undergraduates; this rapport has always existed and yet neither side aptly bridges the gap. Two weeks ago, though, my roommate and I attended our first Burleith Citizens Association meeting. The crowd was small, for the government had just advised everyone to head to the store and purchase duct tape. Nonetheless, he and I were the only Georgetown undergraduates in the room. Moreover, comments from the locals implied that students never attend the get-togethers. I would be lying if I pretended to know how many students live in Burleith, but I can confidently say that the two of us did not represent an adequate proportion. We were not sure what sort of treatment to expect; on one hand, we constantly hear about residents’ hostility toward undergraduates, but, on the other hand, we were making an effort to participate in the Burleith community.
The gathering had its ups and downs, boring portions and engaging issues, but overall my roommate and I are glad we went. The most important thing we concluded from the BCA was the need for direct communication between students and residents. Though the university attempts to serve as an intermediary, such as through the office of Off Campus Student Life, the majority of dealings involve discipline. While I agree that behavior is a serious matter for students and neighbors, university adjudication in off-campus matters will not change student conduct. Only self-control and consideration for others can improve matters between students and neighbors. Unfortunately, though, Metro and university officials function as the main avenue for Burleith and Georgetown citizens to address grievances. At the BCA meeting, one resident discussed a series of neighborhood-university engagements. She said, “We can’t seem to get Dean Gonzalez to come to any of the meetings; when he finally came to one he was too busy balancing his checkbook the whole time.” Thus residents receive the same cold-shoulders from administrators as from students, so positive relationships do not flourish.
There are a number of Burleith residents’ potential grievances that I sympathize with and hope that students would cease. For instance, I would not appreciate a drunk person peeing in my tool shed, nor do I like loud music penetrating the thin walls when I am trying to study or sleep. On the other hand, though, some of the approaches and complaints of neighborhood residents are extreme. One subtle criticism at the BCA meeting was a disapproval of the bright lights on 37th Street. However, when I and other students walk home late at night, those lights make us feel safe and reduce the threat of crime. Furthermore, the use of the ANC to cap enrollment and to restrict students permitted to live off-campus is an excessive tactic that violates students’ civil rights. Not everyone is 21, and we may live in D.C. only part-time, but we are still 18 years of age and thus deserve the same housing privileges of all adults.
I think the solution to Burleith-student relations, and likewise in any neighborhood, is so simple that there is no need for bureaucratic intervention – it is mutual civility and respect. For instance, if you throw a party, keep the music down. Furthermore, inform the neighbors of your intent so that they can contact you if it is too loud. When you see your next-door neighbor getting the mail, say hello and introduce yourself. When you are in Safeway, have a chat with the gentleman in line about the stupidity of purchasing duct tape and your contingency plans to flee D.C. Or, if you want to be ambitious, come to the next BCA meeting or attend local functions such as the spring picnic. My roommates and I were excited for the BCA winter picnic, but unfortunately rain forced its cancellation. For residents to cultivate positive relations, engage the opportunities our university offers. Browse the Georgetown Website and see what sort of charitable activities students do so that you can participate. Check the local notices to see student theatre productions and guest speakers. All we need to get along is a bit of understanding and an end to belligerence. The university is not disappearing anytime soon, and the local citizens will continue to live here, so let’s make the best of our mutual situation and end the petty rivalry.
Noah Riseman is a junior in the College and can be reached at risemanthehoya.com. Plenty Left to Say appears every other Friday.
