Meetings to resolve disputes between University of Utah's Greek Row residents and their neighbors began Thursday night.
However, members of the meeting signed confidentiality agreements saying they would not speak with the media.
The meetings are being held in hopes that the greeks will eliminate early-morning and late night disturbances of their neighbors.
Interfraternity Council President Steven Jones said Thursday after the meeting that members hope to come to a consensus by the end of April, as was decided by both sides in a March 19 meeting organized by Salt Lake City Mayor Ross Anderson.
During that meeting Anderson had hoped to develop a working solution to the dispute by the end of the night, but was "disappointed."
At the end of Anderson's meeting, neighbors decided a working solution must be instated by the end of April or legal action would be taken against the greeks.
The greeks agreed to these terms.
Thursday's meeting was held in the Art Barn just off of campus, and after the meeting mediator Diane Hamilton said that by keeping local media out of the situation a solution could be reached more easily.
Hamilton said local newspapers have given a skewed impression of recent meetings and felt only the Deseret News covered the meetings with accuracy.
All in attendance Thursday night, including neighbors, greeks, faculty and mediators, signed forms by which they agreed to not speak to the media until a consensus is reached, feeling it would help the process.
In the past loud parties, strewn garbage and vulgar chants have caused neighbors to call local police many times. However, local greeks feel they are doing their best to help the situation by increasing police watch of Greek Row, doing community service and trying to keep the noise down.
U President J. Bernard Machen spoke to Greek Row residents Monday, encouraging them to keep up the good work and to continue their efforts to fully accommodate their neighbors.
Many people are critical of creating a solution to the dispute so quickly, since the bad greek/neighbor relations have been ongoing for years. However, both sides hope for better relations without legal action.
"[The problem] has been here for 90 years; we're not going to solve it in a month, but I'm optimistic," Jones said at Anderson's meeting.
