Coke claims to be the “Real Thing.”ÿNike urges “Just do it.”ÿThe Army commands “Be all you can be.”ÿIronically, it’s a beer commercial that promotes, “Responsibility Matters.”ÿThis homecoming weekend please remember that.

I’m 36, not nearly old enough to make such finger-shaking warnings.ÿA recent occurrence in the Randall Park neighborhood made me more aware of the “pack” mentality of some students after a night on Water Street.

I don’t blame students for evrything in my neighborhood, but I suspect the male voices outside my bedroom window at 3 a.m. last week were not those of a group of 40-year-olds.ÿThe next morning, when I noticed my 8-foot tree broken in half with just the shredded trunk remaining on my front boulevard, I sat down on my front steps and cried.ÿThey took the top 4 feet of branches and foliage with them.

Just two weeks earlier, someone had bent this tree so far to the ground that it splintered.ÿMy neighbor said it best, “What, you had no kittens to kick in your front yard?” He shook his head, then helped me bandage the tree and stake it securely with old nylons.

Neither of us believed this could happen twice. Even in the dark – even after many drinks – I’m sure anyone could see that this tree had been repaired – that someone had put time and energy and love into saving it.ÿMaybe that’s why it was broken in half again and this time carried away.ÿI cringe to think that somebody might come back to finish the job.

I filed a police report – yes, over a tree – although chances are whoever did this will never be caught. I contemplated attaching a huge sign to the remains of my little tree in order to personalize this anonymous, stupid act.ÿWhat would Red Foreman, the epitome of a crabby neighbor from “That 70s Show,” write?ÿ “Hey Dumb Asses: You’ll get yours someday.”

That’s the thing.ÿIt’s the few dumb asses who make living where I do sometimes difficult.ÿKeep in mind, I’m not the crabby neighbor on my block.ÿI don’t have the Eau Claire Police Department’s noise complaint number on speed dial to call at 11:01 p.m.ÿ In fact, parties don’t bother me; I close my windows and go to sleep.

The university and its surrounding neighborhoods offer a vibrant place to make a life.ÿ When I bought my house I knew about the mix of students and families on my street.ÿOn any afternoon or evening you can find a game of Frisbee or football.ÿAt any time of day or night I can find a student neighbor home to help me.ÿI have a sense of security – maybe false – about walking around my neighborhood after dark because there are students around: studying in a bedroom with a window open, sitting on their front porch or even on a rooftop.ÿI know my student neighbors by name.

I want to believe in the kindness of strangers, but most of us living near the university – students and homeowners alike – have dealt with theft and vandalism.ÿLike the nice young couple on the corner who had their white picket fence kicked in two weeks after buying their home.ÿOr the kids across the street who lost their Jack-o-Lanterns and Christmas lights last season. Or the students who had their lawn chairs stolen.

Like many homeowners in my neighborhood, I dread homecoming.ÿNot the two days of beer cans in my yard, but the stupid destruction of property.ÿLast year during homecoming weekend – my first in my new house – I woke on Saturday to find the back window of my car shattered with a beer glass thrown from some distance.ÿI’m guessing when the glass left this person’s hand there was no thought that someone would have to pay a $100 insurance deductible or that a 12-year-old boy would be late for his soccer game the next morning because his family’s car was damaged.

I know, it’s hard to put thought into acts that are without forethought.ÿThe key, it seems to me, is to realize folks have to pay for thoughtless acts.ÿThis past year the Student Senate and the Office of Student Development and Diversity have worked with neighborhood associations to build better relationships between students and homeowners.ÿBut it’s time to go beyond organizational community-building and make this more personal. For traditional-age college students, peers are the most influential.

If you see stupid behavior involving your friends – you be the judge about what constitutes stupid – be the responsible voice.ÿOften it takes just one person to say, “Don’t be a dumb ass.”