Oakwood residents support UD students and hope for an open avenue of communication with them: all they ask for in return is respect.

Junior Charles Sizemore, a neighborhood fellow on Irving, is one of the students working to strengthen the relationship between students and Oakwood residents. He and other students have been holding meetings with them to resolve some major issues.

"The meetings are conducted through the ResLife neighborhood staff and Oakwood [residents]," Sizemore said. "They [the meetings] are to bring about an opportunity to build community with the Oakwood residents, because they are a part of UD due to their proximity."

Sizemore enjoys talking to Oakwood residents and encourages students to reach out to them.

"The Oakwood residents are really nice people, just like the students," he said.

When asked how students can help better the relationship with Oakwood residents, Sizemore suggests students simply introduce themselves, step across Irving Avenue and get to know the UD community's neighbors.

When it comes to being considerate, Oakwood residents do not mind parties on campus, but would like students to be more respectful because they have families to raise and jobs to go to every morning.

"Most of these residents have small children and also wish to preserve the decency of their neighborhood. As a result, they feel it is only common courtesy to keep partying and anything obnoxious in the backyard and out of view," Sizemore said. "As long as people are not crazy on the front porch or where the Oakwood residents can see, then the residents do not have a problem with students."

Senior Jessica Ledbetter is a commuter who appreciates Oakwood's neighborhood and understands their request for respectful parties.

"I've been on UD's campus and have seen some of the parties," she said. "Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves, but I can understand the feelings of the Oakwood [residents] wanting more peace, especially since the parties are at night."

Not only are Oakwood residents disturbed by the noise; different students are as well. Ledbetter's sentiments are that parties might not affect as many people if they were inside because "this would help the neighborhood out and allows students studying to get work done," she said.

She suggests getting to know the Oakwood residents on a more personal level.

"I mean, they are neighbors to UD," she said. "Oakwood is so close to UD it could practically be considered part of the neighborhood."

The most important aspect to this relationship between UD students and Oakwood residents is giving respect, Sizemore said.Contrary to what many students believe, "they really do value our education," he said.

"As long as each side of the street respects each other, then there are no problems between students or resident," Sizemore said.