Sitting outside Canyon Pizza on Beaver Avenue, Rachel Anderson eats a slice of cheese pizza while waiting for the bus after a Saturday night out on the town. Her comments are almost drowned out by her loud peers waiting in line for food or a ride.
A few miles down the road, Betty Smith is peacefully asleep, having gone to bed several hours earlier. Her night has been uninterrupted by the often noisy parties that students like Anderson frequented throughout the night.
Smith doesn’t have to deal with the noise because of where she lives, but if new anti-nuisance legislation is passed, others will enjoy the quiet she relishes.
In order to preserve the peace that residents like Smith enjoy, the State College Borough Council proposed a Nuisance Gathering Ordinance that it will vote to keep or dismiss this evening. The ordinance would impose strict fines on hosts of parties that elicit complaints from neighbors.
The Nuisance Gathering Ordinance “intends to preserve the peace, health, safety, and welfare of the residents and neighborhoods in the municipality by reducing gatherings and events that become a public nuisance,” according to borough documents.
According to the ordinance, to be considered a party, there must be at least 10 people in attendance, including the residents. Party hosts violating the ordinance’s regulation would receive a fine ranging from $300 to $600.
Students expressed displeasure about the proposed legislation, and many said they feel the ordinance is without merit.
“It’s just another way for the borough to make money,” said Rachel Anderson, an on-campus resident. Anderson said the ordinance won’t prevent her from going out as often as she normally does, though she will be more careful about where she goes if it is passed.
A study released by IssuesPA, an initiative of the Pennsylvania Economy League, explains that boroughs containing universities often take on additional costs since students do not pay taxes to the municipalities, but still receive the services of residents, including the police department.
Borough Council President and Mayor-elect Elizabeth Goreham said she agrees that monetary issues have motivated the Nuisance Gathering Ordinance, but also said the objective is to save money, not take it from party hosts.
“Half of the budget goes to the police department,” Goreham said, adding that those costs create a problem in fully funding the borough’s needs.
During the month of May, police responded to 57 party-related calls for assistance, according to the most recent statistics. Thirty-two involved liquor – 28 of which were related to public intoxication – and 25 were noise related calls, according to police documents.
Residents are also aware of the burden students can create.
“I’ve never had to call the police,” said State College resident Betty Smith, who lives off West College. “But I know plenty of people who have. It would be nice to see what would get done if controlling parties wasn’t such a priority.”
The ordinance draws on legislation from Big Ten schools, and other surrounding universities, such as Bloomsburg. The legislation at Bloomsburg requires a list of guests to be checked by local police and an ID required if alcohol will be served, according to borough documents.
On Nov. 10, the Interfraternity Council approved a policy to enforce new regulations on socials and parties for next semester in an attempt to control parties. New regulations include limiting allowed party hours and dates, as well as requiring ID, guest lists and a professional bouncer at the door.
“If a frat gets in trouble for furnishing or something, then the entire registered socials can be suspended at that frat, which Greek Life relies on,” said Mark Venturino, a Delta Chi fraternity brother.
Penn State Greek Life would be included and subject to the proposed legislation, though the preemptive actions taken are not required by the ordinance said Goreham.The fraternities would definitely be included in the ordinance, and they would, “be held to the same standards.”
“The whole fraternity social policy gets put in jeopardy if they get busted,” said Venturino. He added that fraternity conduct manual says you’ll get social probation and loss of recognition if it’s a repeated issue.
These new self-imposed regulations are more in line with what Goreham would like to see instead of the proposed ordinance. She said she would prefer a social host ordinance that would require parties to be registered, as well as the amount of people.
Goreham supports the objective and ultimate goal of the borough in trying to make a safer community and better utilize borough money by passing the ordinance. However, she feels the ordinance as currently written is “too authoritarian,” and added that the best approach is mutual discussion between the borough council, residents and students to find a middle ground for all.
“I think it’s important to really discuss this and come to a mutual agreement,” she said.
