May 5, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Blake Bolton,ASI President
(805) 756-1291

Cal Poly Student and Community Relations Group
Sets Goals for Collaboration

SAN LUIS OBISPO -- Students and community members are one step closer to bridging a widely recognized gap in student-community relations with the establishment of a document drafted by San Luis Obispo’s Student Community Liaison Committee, according to student government leaders from Cal Poly's Associated Students Inc.

The group is comprised of more than 30 members from all sectors of the community, including delegates from the City Administrator’s office and the Board of Supervisors, students and administrators from both Cal Poly and Cuesta colleges, Mayor Dave Romero and Police Chief Deborah Linden.

“For years, students and permanent residents have talked about their hopes for improving community relations, but nothing has ever been formalized,” said Blake Bolton, president of Associated Students Inc. (ASI) and Chair of SCLC. “These principles are a collaborative effort that we can look to and work toward achieving.”

Based on those efforts, the committee unanimously endorsed ‘A Statement of Our Hopes for the Community’ on Feb. 17, 2005. The document formalizes goals for student-community relations.

Now that the goals are in place, the next step will be promoting the principles and working toward carrying them out. “The SCLC’s mission is not only to solve problems, but to avoid them by setting both a positive tone and the right example,” said Mayor Romero. “The Statement of Hopes will certainly promote this mission.”

Established in 1987, the group uses education, events, mediation programs and advocacy to improve relationships between students and community members. Most recently, the group was part of a coalition that helped to dissuade City Council from implementing triple fines during Mardi Gras weekend.

The text of the statement from the Student Community Liaison Committee:


A Statement of Our Hopes for the Community

  • In order to continually improve the relationship between all segments of the community, the Student-Community Liaison Committee strives to promote these principles:
  • Community members should be civil and respectful toward each other.
  • Everyone has equal rights and responsibilities.
  • Members of this community should treat each other with respect and consideration regardless of their duration of residency.
  • Community members should be held accountable for their actions.
  • Community members should be respectful of other’s residence and property.
  • Community members expect their residence to not be adversely affected by outside noise violations.
  • Community members should be able to have social gatherings that are considerate, reasonable and appropriate for the time of day.
  • Community members deserve to be recognized for their own actions and attitudes, and not pre-judged based on the actions and attitudes of others.
  • Community members should not be stereotyped based on age or any other criterion.
  • Community members deserve to be respected for what they contribute to the community.
  • Community members have a responsibility to add positively to the community.

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