Knock, knock - Who's there? It's not Ed McMahon

UConn President Hogan and Mansfield Mayor Paterson greet UConn senior Adam Soklow.at Celeron Square Apts. Photos by Brenda Sullivan.

President Michael Hogan and Mayor Betsy Paterson made a surprise door-to-door visit to several off-campus students as part of an effort to foster a "good neighbor" relationship between students and town residents.

There were no balloons or oversize checks, but students who were paid a surprise visit Wednesday afternoon by University of Connecticut President Michael Hogan and Mansfield Mayor Betsy Paterson were almost as enthusiastic as someone finding the Publishers Clearinghouse Prize Patrol outside their door.

"President Mike" even joked, "Look, Ed McMahon is right behind me."

The few students who were a little less pleased to see a flank of TV news cameras pointing at them still took time to shake hands, exchange a bit of chit-chat and then duck back into their apartments.

"President Mike" and "Mayor Betsy" went door-to-door today at Hunting Lodge Apartments and Celeron Square Apartments as ambassadors of good will, and to demonstrate that UConn is part of Mansfield and Mansfield is part of UConn.

The in-person tour of the off-campus housing is part of a larger effort to promote respect between UConn students and the permanent residents of Mansfield. About four years ago, the effort was formalized by the creation of the Mansfield Community-Campus Partnership, which includes representatives of town staff, the university, student government and town residents.

This is the second year the delegation has visited the apartment complexes that neighbor the campus. "Last year, we met 800 or 900 - we hope to top that," Paterson said, who joined the entourage after finishing her work for the day. Paterson works in the bursar's office at UConn, which might be a little busy this week.

As he greeted students, Hogan expressed his hope that they would keep safe, excel in school and just plain enjoy themselves. He also exhorted them to attend tomorrow's football game - and to visit his blog where he shares highlights of his week.

Some students felt completely at ease with Hogan, and greeted him with a good-natured slap on the back, or a vigorous handshake. He was sometimes surprised by what students shared with him - for example, one (very tall) student who said he was transferring to UConn in his senior year, and another who said his dual major is engineering and German and explained that he is enrolled in UConn's EUROTECH program.

A group of students playing horseshoes outside their apartment building invited him to take a couple of throws, after Hogan kidded them for not playing something "more manly."

After observing the throwing style of Stephen Rhodes, executive assistant to the president, Hogan made a couple of respectable throws. He joked that he was just "warming up," and then declined the students' offer to give it another go.

Hogan said he enjoyed welcoming the students back to UConn. "We welcome them back to both communities... We want them to know that we care a lot about their welfare and well-being," he said.

He added that students also need to act responsibly, and that their attitude towards their temporary hometown of Mansfield has been improving over the last few years. "They are more prepared, a more sensitive population... we have great students," he said.

Paterson added that town residents should realize that students bring a lot of value to the town. "Most people don't realize how much students contribute to the town. They are coaches for our recreation programs, they serve as interns at the Mansfield Rehabilitation Center - they [town residents] don't normally see that, they usually hear about students being drunk, but we're trying to change that," she said.

Volunteers overseen by the head of Off-Campus Student Services Jim Hintz  will continue the door-to-door effort throughout the week, handing out bags filled with information about rights and responsibilities and important contacts- such as who to contact in emergencies, or if there are issues with rental property owners - as well as some freebies, such as potholders.

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Photos:

1. "President Mike" talks with Caitlin Curtis.

2. Executive Assistant to the President Stephen Rhodes shares some techniques for tossing a horseshoe.

3. Hogan gets ready to throw.

4. ... and lets it fly.

5.  Director of Off-Campus Student Services Jim Hintz talks with a TV news crew.

6. Community Police Officer Thomas Ryba escorts the entourage.

7. Hogan and Paterson coax a camera-shy student to come to the door.

8. It was a tight squeeze on the stairs with Channels 8, 3, 30 and 61 news crews tagging along, as well as reporters and photographers from local newspapers - and the editor of Mansfield Today.

9 - 12. More knocking on doors.

13. - 14. More TV crews.

15.-16. More meet and greet.

17. Hogan talks with students, including one (in green) who said he is a senior who just transferred to UConn.

Posted Aug. 27, 2008

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