3/30/15
E. Sweeny
ENG 112
Standard Argument
College Neighborhoods; Quieting the Commotion
What does it mean to be neighborly? Neighborly means to act in a friendly and respectful manner. Even the definition of the word neighborly implies that neighbors should act amiably with one another. Unfortunately, that understanding is not prevalent between individuals in college neighborhoods. College neighborhoods have a reputation of being disorderly and having apathetic behavior. Many students may not be prepared for the responsibilities of living on their own. There are programs in some universities that help students acclimate themselves to real-world living situations. These programs have shown that communicating the issues of discourteousness …show more content…
Forni, a Johns Hopkins University professor, and author of "Choosing Civility: The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct" who explains that if someone is uncertain about the impact they have on their neighbors, then they should ask themselves; “’What are the consequences of what I am doing for the people around me?’” (03). Many college students do not consider this question, and lack the knowledge that they are disturbing others. In order to help students understand the impact of their actions, surrounding neighbors should politely communicate any issues that might arise with the students. When problems occur, many make the mistake of letting the situation escalate until they have become unreasonable, and it is unfair to assume that the students know that they have created an issue. It is better to communicate the smaller issues, such as playing loud music late into the night, right after the first occurrence. Letting something go uncommunicated just because the issue only happened once, does not mean it will not happen again. If the issue occurs repeatedly, and no action has been taken to alleviate the problem, individuals are more likely to lash out from holding in their resentment. When there is adequate communication, neighbors are more likely to come to an understanding and problems get …show more content…
The University in Pittsburgh has already developed such a program called “Be a Good Neighbor” with the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation. The program encourages students to reach out and get to know their neighbors, and learn to be considerate when it comes to noise and trash. “Be a Good Neighbor,” guides students and neighbors to build professional relationships. When trust and understanding is built between neighbors, issues are less likely to occur, or are quickly