The city of Columbus is fed up with the recent antics in the off-campus area, and this weekend officials are putting their foot down. Parking will be prohibited on Norwich Avenue, between Indianola Avenue and High Street, and on 13th Avenue between Indianola Avenue and High Street.
“The mayor’s office and the Department of Public Safety have legitimate safety concerns with cars parked on both sides of these streets,” said Barb Seckler, assistant director of public safety for Columbus. “For police, EMS and fire units getting into these areas, these cars present serious obstacles.”
Last night, meters on the two streets were capped with orange covers, and emergency signs were posted to warn residents of the new parking policy. Today cars parked in the area will be marked with a warning asking them to park elsewhere. As it gets later into the evening, cars still parked in the areas will be taken to a city lot, but owners of the vehicle will not be charged a towing fee, said Seckler. “However, new cars that had not been previously marked will be towed and those owners will be charged a towing fee and ticketed.”
According to Mike Brown, spokesman for Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, the parking policy was necessary because of the way cars were used and abused in the disturbances last weekend.
“Students were concealing themselves behind cars, throwing beer bottles at police officers,” Brown said. “We also all know what happened to some cars parked in the area.”
In addition to the no parking zone, Coleman has sent letters to local beer distributors strongly suggesting they limit the sale of beer kegs to one per person for individuals who do not have a permit for the sale or consumption of draft beer. He also strongly urged the distributors to have customers sign an invoice that lists the address of where the keg of beer will be consumed.
Coleman wrote that he recognized the sale of kegs is only one factor contributing to the “appalling and unruly” behavior in the area. He added that the city is exploring other ways to deal with the situation.
Additionally, many campus area grocery stores have agreed not to sell any alcoholic beverages in glass containers. The stores stopped selling alcohol in bottles yesterday and will continue to do so until Sunday.
Coleman has also sent letters to parents of OSU students informing them of the situation and the actions that Columbus is taking to deal with it. OSU has also sent a letter to parents detailing the way the university is handling the disturbances.
“We understand that the actions the city is taking are steps, not yet solutions,” Brown said. “It can’t be students versus police. The city and the mayor are taking comprehensive actions to work toward long-term solutions, and these small steps are the beginning of that process.
In a press conference yesterday, Bill Hall, interim vice president for Student Affairs, briefed the media on the university’s plan of action for this weekend. Hall once again stressed that students who host unruly parties will be immediately placed on interim suspension. Further judicial proceedings will decide if the students will receive an actual suspension or expulsion from OSU.
Hall also said the Ohio Liquor Control Board will patrol the neighborhoods looking for liquor-control violations.
Lawn parties are strongly discouraged. “Students who choose to ignore this advice and hold an outdoor party should be aware that they are assuming a very high risk of being sanctioned,” Hall said.
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