 "Photo: Adam Godfrey")
The proposed noise ordinance may silence the loud music heard throughout the campus, but it won't silence the students' voices.
T.J. Finley, a senior in sports and leisure studies, said the noise is to be expected from a large university's campus.
"There is noise on campus, but if you live on campus you should expect it to be noisy until 2:30 or 3 in the morning. There are way too many kids here to enforce anything like that," Finley said.
"There's been plenty of parties that I've been at where the cops have come two to three times and just told them to turn the music down. The third time they would come, they just shut (the party) down," he said.
City Attorney Richard C. Pfeiffer Jr. said the subjectivity of the old ordinance made it unconstitutional.
The existing ordinance uses decibels to gauge noise disturbances. The proposed noise ordinance will use distance in an attempt to eliminate any confusion.
Officer Jon Broecker of the Columbus Division of Police said there were too many problems using the decibel system of classifying noise, he said the new ordinance should be an effective means of curbing the problem on campus.
"It isn't really a good law. It made no sense. Before (the proposed ordinance) came into play, basically we'd do nothing. That was the problem; we'd knock on someone's door and we couldn't do anything. It was considered their right to do that," Broecker said. "Now it sounds like it's going to be pretty effective. That's going to be a big help."
Marlene Holt, a graduate student in education, disagrees. Holt said the policy violates students' right to enjoy their college experiences.
"I figure I have my time to be loud and obnoxious and everyone else should have theirs. I mean, we all get on each other's nerves, but it's just a part of life. They need to quit adding so many restrictions onto our lives," Holt said.
Holt is not alone in her criticism. Jakin Wilson, a junior in mechanical engineering, doesn't think the ordinance is necessary.
"I'm not a big fan of this whole thing because I don't think that it's fair. I mean, it's a college campus - we're one of the largest universities in the country, and they are caring about a bunch of noise," Wilson said.
Students who are cited for noise disturbances will face strict consequences. Under the new guidelines the offenders can be found guilty of a fourth-degree misdemeanor, with a $250 fine for second-time offenders.
"Something has to be done. The cycle is repetitive, it just never ends. We're having a lot of problems with enforcing it," Broecker said.
90 percent of noise complaints come out of residential areas.
"Nobody wants to live in a neighborhood where you have to fight for the daily quality of life," said Bruce Warner, president of the Franklinton Homeowners Association.
Voting on the proposed ordinance will take place at tonight's city council meeting.
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