What can I do to avoid potential conflicts with my neighbors and/or others in the community?
I have some big things that I want to throw away; what should I do?
I am having problems with my landlord regarding my apartment, lease, deposit, etc.; what should I do?
My landlord will not take care of landscaping at my apartment (e.g., cutting grass, trimming hedges, snow and leaf removal, etc.), and I would like to see these addressed and/or my neighbors are harassing me about these conditions. What can I do?
Where can I find information about volunteering in the community, as an individual or for a group?
Who are my elected representatives in government?
Q. What can I do to avoid potential conflicts with my neighbors and/or others in the community? A. The majority of problems between students and area residents, and at times the police and other authorities, have involved activities that can easily be addressed by considering the impact of the action on others. In summary, the most prominent complaints from neighbors involve noise late at night from parties and as people walk to and from destinations, rude, disrespectful and inappropriate behavior from students when neighbors confront them, trash, and a general lack of concern by students for their neighbors. I, and others from throughout the university community, are deeply concerned by these complaints, and anticipate that each student will do their part to take steps to address these issues. The following list provides additional specifics regarding off-campus student-associated concerns. - Loud noise and other activity at late hours has been the most pervasive complaint. Students should be aware of their surroundings and the impact that activities have on others. To mitigate the effect of sound, windows and doors should be closed, music volume maintained at reasonable levels, and when lingering outside or walking between destinations, persons should be mindful of the volume levels.
- Unacceptable behavior. Each individual is responsible for his or her own actions as well as that of their guests. Verbal and physical altercations are not acceptable, whether involving students, JHU affiliates, neighbors, the police, or others. The destruction of property is also unacceptable. If a disagreement can not be resolved civilly, students should call JHU Security (410-516-4600) or report difficulties to the Office of the Dean of Student Life, rather than taking matters into their own hands.
- The improper disposal of trash and recycling not only is highly visible and unsightly, it is also disrespectful of one’s neighbors, a very real health hazard, and has an adverse impact on the quality of the neighborhood, it also carries fines and other penalties. The City’s Department of Public Works ((410) 396-4511) can provide information on pick-up schedules and disposal procedures.
- Students are asked to keep the exterior of their off-campus residences “presentable,” taking care of elements that are their responsibility, as opposed to those of the landlord, including properly managing trash and recycling, cutting lawns, removing leaves and snow, and alerting one’s landlord to things they may need to do to maintain the property.
- Above all, students are encouraged to be a positive member of their community by getting to know their neighbors, being considerate of the needs and sensitivities of others, taking part in neighborhood events such as clean-ups and safety watches, and lending a helping hand when possible.
For additional advice and information, please contact Carrie Bennett, JHU’s Student – Community Liaison, at Liaison@jhu.edu or 410-516-2359.
Q. I have some big things that I want to throw away, what should I do? A. You have two options: - Get the trash to the Sisson Street Transfer Station, located at 2840 Sisson Street, across the street from the Burger King restaurant on 29th Street just before the entrance ramp onto Route 83/JFX, about a five minute drive from campus. Area residents may dispose of waste materials for free. The station is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Residents bringing materials for disposal in their personal vehicle, including unmodified pickup trucks rated 3/4 ton or less, simply need to show proof of local residency (if your driver’s license does not have your local address, bring a lease, utility bill, bank statement, or some other formal document with your name and local address) to access this service. There are some limitations as to what can be disposed of at this location. For additional information, please call (410) 396-8450.
- Call the city for a bulk trash pick up. Note: Please plan accordingly, as it may take up to three weeks for the pick-up to occur, and you must not put the material out before the evening prior to the scheduled pick-up. Every month, Baltimoreans can place up to three items out for bulk collection. Simply call “311” and provide the following information:
A. Your address
B. Your telephone #
C. What 3 items
Call three or more working days before your scheduled date. Your bulk trash day remains the same in 2007. If you do not know your day, please call 311 or schedule your collection online.
Q. I am having problems with my landlord regarding my apartment, lease, deposit, etc., what should I do? A. If you are unable to find a solution, a good starting place is JHU’s Office of Off-Campus Housing’s landlord relations page at (Awaiting reply from Mireille Miller).
Q. My landlord will not take care of landscaping at my apartment (e.g., cutting grass, trimming hedges, snow and leaf removal, etc.), and I would like to see these addressed and/or my neighbors are harassing me about these conditions. What can I do? A. Check your lease to determine whose responsibility it is to take care of these issues. If it is your landlord’s responsibility, remind them of this agreement and inform them that the neighbors are upset about the condition of the landscaping. You may also want to tell your neighbors that landscaping is your landlord’s charge, and they should contact the property owner. If it is your responsibility, you can contact Carrie Bennett, JHU’s Student – Community Liaison, at Liaison@jhu.edu or 410-516-2359 and arrange to borrow landscaping tools.
Q. Where can I find information about volunteering in the community, as an individual or for a group? A. You can contact Salem Reiner, JHU’s director for Community Affairs, at SReiner1@jhu.edu or 443-287-9900. Salem can direct you to a wide array of opportunities to meet your interests. Of course, you can also contact JHU’s Center for Social Concern online or at 410.516.4777.
Q. Who are my elected representatives in government? A. You can find your city council representative here, and your state and federal legislators here.
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