One of the great benefits of attending The George Washington University is its location in the Foggy Bottom/West End and Foxhall communities. We enjoy numerous cultural activities as well as world class shopping, restaurants, and entertainment opportunities.

The George Washington University is committed to being a good neighbor in our community. The Office of DC and Foggy Bottom/West End Affairs and the Office of Off-Campus Student Affairs demonstrate this commitment and work in partnership with students and neighbors to address concerns and make a better community for all of us.

One of the concerns we often hear from our neighbors is about noise. Our neighborhoods are filled with working professionals, senior citizens and families with young children. The lifestyle of students can be very different from the lifestyle of our neighbors. You may be walking with a group of friends for a fun night out at 8pm on Saturday night, just when parents are putting their children to bed. Or, you may be returning at 1am from enjoying a night on the town and families are sound asleep.

To help us all be better members of our community we are introducing the Quiet Zone initiative. As a gentle reminder to students leaving their residence halls, Quiet Zone posters will be placed on building doors. We encourage everyone to keep these tips in mind:

• When walking in a group, make sure that your talking and laughing are kept at a moderate level
• Pay special attention to residential buildings. DC laws make it illegal to shout or make a disturbance outside a building at night.
• Try not to congregate beneath windows of a residential building.
• Keep your mobile phone conversations at a reasonable volume.

We encourage you to follow these tips, and your own common sense, in our neighborhoods. Practicing this small bit of courtesy can reap tremendous benefits for our communities. Please help us all to be better neighbors and encourage others to take part in the Quiet Zone.