2008 Woodie Awards
City bill threatens student 'fests'
Amanda Lopez
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: News
Senior Bill Sutherland, a resident of North Chapel Street, said he felt that a bill like this restricts his rights as a student.
"I definitely feel like my rights are being taken away," Sutherland said. "I mean, everyone has the right to throw a party as long as it's done safely. I can have a party full of 21-year-olds drinking. How does that really impact the city if we're following the law?"
Greenland said a number of student representatives attended to speak on the subject in a City Council meeting Monday night. Voting on this subject was postponed to Dec. 10 after an influx of e-mail messages were received from angered students.
"Basically, we complained so much that the council members decided to move to a vote four weeks from now," he said. "They realized we were right and that the bill went far beyond anything ethical."
The SGA's goal is to change the bill in its entirety, Greenland said.
He said the councilmen expressed their agreement in finding an alternative to the solution.
"They basically said 'If you don't like it, think of an alternative," Greenland said.
Senior Kevin Miller said although council members have agreed to work with students on this issue, he feels the city does not actively involve students in many of the decisions affecting them.
"The city caters so much more to residents," Miller said. "We are not really included in a lot of things that we should be, and they push us to the side. We haven't heard much about this and I guarantee that they don't care."
Miller has been a city resident for the past four years and said he feels he has a right to impose some restrictions and keep everything in check.
"Not that I would love for more cops to be around," Miller said. "But I should at least be part of the discussion and my opinion as a student should matter. We are a big part of town economically."
He said he feels that canceling or banning block-party events like Chapelfest would be a huge let-down.
"I think it's taking away something really great about UD," Miller said. "I've been going to things like this since I was a freshman. Everyone gets together and hangs out get to know other people and interact. It's a fun time that would be missed."
"I definitely feel like my rights are being taken away," Sutherland said. "I mean, everyone has the right to throw a party as long as it's done safely. I can have a party full of 21-year-olds drinking. How does that really impact the city if we're following the law?"
Greenland said a number of student representatives attended to speak on the subject in a City Council meeting Monday night. Voting on this subject was postponed to Dec. 10 after an influx of e-mail messages were received from angered students.
"Basically, we complained so much that the council members decided to move to a vote four weeks from now," he said. "They realized we were right and that the bill went far beyond anything ethical."
The SGA's goal is to change the bill in its entirety, Greenland said.
He said the councilmen expressed their agreement in finding an alternative to the solution.
"They basically said 'If you don't like it, think of an alternative," Greenland said.
Senior Kevin Miller said although council members have agreed to work with students on this issue, he feels the city does not actively involve students in many of the decisions affecting them.
"The city caters so much more to residents," Miller said. "We are not really included in a lot of things that we should be, and they push us to the side. We haven't heard much about this and I guarantee that they don't care."
Miller has been a city resident for the past four years and said he feels he has a right to impose some restrictions and keep everything in check.
"Not that I would love for more cops to be around," Miller said. "But I should at least be part of the discussion and my opinion as a student should matter. We are a big part of town economically."
He said he feels that canceling or banning block-party events like Chapelfest would be a huge let-down.
"I think it's taking away something really great about UD," Miller said. "I've been going to things like this since I was a freshman. Everyone gets together and hangs out get to know other people and interact. It's a fun time that would be missed."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 24
Judy
posted 11/16/07 @ 8:04 AM EST
I do not understand how Chapelfest and other fests are a student right. How is loud noise, public urination, drunk and disorderly conduct and parties completely out of control a right? Chapelfest is the worst offender, because it does spill out onto the street, creating a real danger for motorists and a terrible situation for residents and surrounding businesses. (Continued…)
Lisa P.
posted 11/16/07 @ 8:53 AM EST
There is no such thing as your "right" to party except in a Beastie Boys song. Just maybe, if year after year, students didn't prove town residents right by acting like drunken idiots and causing all kinds of ridiculous problems, your "right" to party would not be threatened. (Continued…)
Monica Dominguez Torres
posted 11/16/07 @ 10:12 AM EST
Students are Newark residents for only 4 years. 'Local non-student residents' are here for much longer than that... Of course they should be the only ones deciding about what's going on in the town they chose to live in on a permanent basis!!! They are the ones who have to stand the consequences of these parties year after year. (Continued…)
Lauren
posted 11/16/07 @ 10:12 AM EST
These comments are ridiculous. The residents of Newark should know what they're getting into when they move to a town that houses over 16,000 college students. (Continued…)
Phil
posted 11/16/07 @ 12:51 PM EST
The only reason this town exists is because of the university. The students of the university, who seem to have brighter futures then the people from around the city of newark, just want to have fun one time a year. (Continued…)
Lisa
posted 11/16/07 @ 3:35 PM EST
Listen to yourselves.....spoiled brats. I have been witness to these fests and the aftermath, students being taken to the hospital with alcohol poisoning, wounds from assaults from drunken brawls, property damage in the thousands, time and resources wasted by the police and emergency services to babysit and save you from yourselves because you can't practice any self-control. (Continued…)
Dan Greenland
posted 11/16/07 @ 4:27 PM EST
Let me clarify a few things for anyone who reads this because some aspects of why the SGA dislikes the bill are missing and because I am bad at interviews. (Continued…)
J D
posted 11/16/07 @ 4:32 PM EST
Ahhh, the folly of youth. If you refuse to obey the law and respect your community based on the "Everybody's doing it" rationale of countless middle school students, then you should not be surprised when adults step in and take your playthings away. (Continued…)
CWoods
posted 11/16/07 @ 9:33 PM EST
I think that the adults that are talking about "taking student's playthings away" are being naive to the point that the students of UD and their parents are pumping in more money to this community than any other source, aside from the multi-million dollar endowments that are bestowed upon this university by Dupont and Gore. (Continued…)
longtimeresident
posted 11/18/07 @ 5:58 PM EST
Fact: The non-student residents and UD students have to co-exist.
Fact: Current non-student residents are fed up with students, but students don't care. (Continued…)
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