Dear Editor,

In June 2011, we purchased our home at the corner of South 7th and Elm. Some people questioned our choice of a home right across the street from a college campus.

We weren’t concerned because Gusties have a reputation as forward-thinking, socially responsible people. Our assumptions were confirmed when our first year in our new house passed without incident.

Unfortunately, this year has been another story. Lately, we’ve had to pick up empty beer cans and pop bottles in our yard. We have seen students walking across our lawn at night right in front of our picture window, have found footprints in our flowerbed, and have had to straighten the bricks near our mailbox where they’d been kicked out of place. We’ve been jolted awake at 1:00 am by noisy, drunken voices from the street that sound like they’re right under our bedroom window.

One morning, we awoke to find empty Solo cups with varying amounts of alcohol in them sitting on our front step.

1105 South Seventh Street is not some frat house; this is our home. This is where we live and raise our children.

All we are asking is for some common courtesy from our Gustavus neighbors. There’s a sidewalk across the street. Use it. If you are headed down the hill, don’t use our yard as a shortcut.

If you have empty beer bottles or other trash, please feel free to put them in the trash/recycle can on the side of our garage. If it’s after midnight, try to keep your voices at a reasonable level.

And remember – when you are off campus, whether you like it or not, you represent all Gustavus students. And so far, we’re not impressed.

We would appreciate your cooperation.

Scott and Jennelle Zarn