A new program will provide residents in Foggy Bottom and West End an opportunity to report potential incidents with GW students living off-campus.
The GW Community Response Program, which was announced by the University Monday, will offer a hotline for neighbors to report possible incidents with off-campus students. Responders can document the time, location and nature of the event.
The program is the latest step in officials cracking down on student behavior off-campus, which has for decades created tension between neighbors and GW.
All reports filed through the program will be reviewed by University staff and students will only be held accountable for incidents that are verified by the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, according to the release.
The program will run for 10 weekends during the 2015-2016 academic year, including Labor Day, Halloween and Commencement weekends.
Responders to those incidents will be trained by the Division of Student Affairs, the GW Office of Government and Community Relations and the GW Offices of Safety and Security. Community members or GW employees can be responders.
Student leaders have been briefed about the new program over the past few weeks, according to the release. More information on the program will also be available during “Be A Good Neighbor” orientation sessions during the first week of classes.
University Police Department officers were reprimanded by city police officers in 2013 for violating off-campus jurisdiction. Punishments for off-campus noise and trash violations were created last August.