The police responded to this noise complaint like any other. But something was different when officers arrived at the apartment—it was completely unfurnished.

According to Cheryl Adelstein, director of community relations and local government affairs, when WUPD realized that hundreds of undergraduate students were partying in an empty apartment on Forsyth Boulevard that was being rented solely for throwing parties, it became apparent that this was more than just a matter of breaking up a gathering.

Though in the past most off-campus issues have occurred in the neighborhoods north of campus, new efforts by both Washington University’s Office of Community and Government Relations and Office of Campus Life will target students living along Forsyth.

While the number of incidents on Forsyth this year may not be larger than usual, the problems have been significant enough to demand the University’s attention, according to Adelstein. “There’s been three to four instances on Forsyth earlier this year that have led us to believe that we have to do greater education efforts with the students there,” she said. “Every year we try to address them, but we’re going to try and go at it in a more cohesive way this year.”

While the issues aren’t unprecedented, Adelstein said that the continued difficulties are putting additional strain on community relations.

“I’d say that [relations are] very tense; the neighbors on that street have tolerated a lot of very inappropriate behavior for a very long time,” Adelstein said. “I’m hopeful that our education efforts will have impact to make the neighborhood friendlier for both students and neighbors.”

Students who live on Forsyth were not aware of any issues between students and neighbors.

“The only complaint I’ve ever gotten from a neighbor was when people blocked [his] driveways,” fifth-year student Daniel Kang said. “There hasn’t been any huge issue I’m aware of.”

Senior Corey Donahue also said he wasn’t familiar with any significant student-local issues, but noted that he lives in a quieter part of the neighborhood.

“I’ve had no experience with student rowdiness on Forsyth, but I live pretty far down,” he said.

Though Adelstein’s office is continuing to devise a strategy for the coming year, she says its current efforts will include mailing letters, engaging in conversations with students and holding events to bring students and community members together.

Beyond Forsyth, however, Adelstein said that the number of off-campus incidents so far this year is not abnormal.

“We’ve had a fairly quiet start to the school year in terms of student behavior in the neighborhoods, and we’re very hopeful that that trend will continue,” she said.