That buzz you feel is the energy of a new year starting today – Sept. 30 – at the University of Oregon.

UO officials and others are welcoming back students living off campus with the 2013 UO Community Welcome walk, which runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Leaders including UO President Michael Gottfredson, Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy and others will go door to door in near-campus neighborhoods to meet students, share tips on keeping them and their belongings safe and encourage them to be good neighbors.

Participants include Robin Holmes, vice president for Student Affairs; Sam Dotters-Katz, ASUO student body president; Paul Shang, UO assistant vice president and dean of students; UO Police Chief Carolyn McDermed; Eugene Police Chief Pete Kerns; and dozens of neighborhood, student and community leaders.

Groups will walk campus neighborhoods to welcome students back to the UO and the larger community. Participants will engage students and campus neighbors and information will be provided to 2,000 residences about crime prevention and rental rights and responsibilities.

- by UO Office of Strategic Communications