Jason Koski/University Photography

Cornellians participate in BEAR Walk in Collegetown Aug. 28.

Jason Koski/University Photography

Cornell students pass out “BEAR Walk bags" to neighborhood residents.

Jason Koski/University Photography

Cornell community members and Ithaca city officials collaborate to build positive relationships between Collegetown residents and the university.

To promote a greater sense of community in Collegetown, Cornell students, Ithaca officials, Cornell staff, and Cornell and Ithaca city police officers took part Aug. 28 in the inaugural BEAR (Being Engaged and Responsible) Walk.

Participants distributed “BEAR Walk bags” throughout Collegetown with the goal of building positive relationships among Cornell students, Collegetown residents and the university.

Modeled after Penn State’s successful LION (Living in One Neighborhood) Walk, BEAR Walk set out from St. Luke’s Lutheran Church on Oak Avenue.

Participant Travis Apgar, Cornell’s Robert G. Engel Associate Dean of Students, said he is optimistic that the event could help ease any sense of discord between students and permanent residents.

“I’m hoping that we will reach a lot of students but also a lot of residents,” said Apgar. “We want to make the connection that students and residents can get along in this neighborhood. We want to promote the connection of those two groups.”

Participants went door-to-door in groups of about five people. When residents were not home, the participants hung bags of pamphlets on the doors.

David Sternau ’15, a resident of an eight-person annex on Cook Street, said, “Living in Collegetown has given me a chance to interact with fellow neighbors and residents on a daily basis. I’d like to think that students can live in harmony with nonstudent residents and faculty.”

When asked about being visited, Sternau replied, “I think it’s a step in the right direction. It’s important that we embrace our commonality as members of the same community.”

On Aug. 21, members of the Cornell Greek system and Cornell University Police took part in a “Cub Walk” in Collegetown to distribute “Party Without the Police” door hangers to remind residents of laws pertaining to entertaining in the neighborhood.

BEAR Walk sponsors included the Office of Government and Community Relations, Student and Academic Services, the Cornell Collegetown Student Council and the city of Ithaca.

Scott Goldberg '16 is writer intern for the Cornell Chronicle.