This year, neighborhood Fellows

have begun to do rounds in the student neighborhoods on weekends in order to serve as liaisons

between UD Public Safety and students.

If UD Public Safety sees a party getting out of control, they relay word of the event to the fellows on duty, giving them the chance to manage the situation without Public Safety having to take action.

"The shift in the policy was to have peer contacts and peer support

in decision making," Christina

Smith, area coordinator for the student neighborhood, said. "Sometimes students are more nervous about Public Safety approaching

them, so we hope this makes students more receptive to recognizing when a party is out of control."

The new policy was meant to hold students responsible for other

students, according to Ashley Boyer, a junior Fellow.

"I think it is a unique thing that is really helpful," David Werner,

a senior Fellow, said. "It is beneficial to all parties involved if you think about it."

The Fellows are assigned to alternating weekends to be on patrol. Rounds are typically done Thursday nights 9 p.m. to midnight

and Friday and Saturday nights 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Only the south side of campus is patrolled by the Fellows.

A typical night on duty for a Fellow includes making sure the students are having fun but being safe while doing it. Usually, the Fellows walk around, talk to people

who are out or see people they know and strike up conversation with them. The Fellows only address

a house party that is out of control after first being contacted by Public Safety, Boyer said.

"If a student needs it, we'll call Public Safety or Mom's Limo service, but they make sure the students do not get taken advantage

of by anyone else when they look vulnerable or are in a vulnerable

position," Werner said. "I can't see a negative to that whatsoever."

If Fellows have to check a party,

they tell the owners to turn the music down and warn the owners of the unruly party.

"People who we do approach are usually really grateful that we did," Boyer said. "They are grateful that they did not get cited

and that Public Safety did not have to intervene."

"Oftentimes the Fellows know the people living in the houses having the unruly party, so it is not as difficult to talk to the hosts of the party and coming to an understanding that something must be done to avoid being cited,"

Werner said. "Knowing the people having the party makes it easier to approach."

Another duty of the Fellows "doing rounds" is looking at dangerous

behavior that could lead to negative consequences. Realizing

when people walking though the student neighborhood are put into situations in which they could be taken advantage of, the Fellows step in and attempt to prevent these types of outcomes, Werner said.

"The new program is meant to build community, manage crises, and take a first step in intervention,"

Smith said. "Almost overwhelmingly

students are receptive

to it."