Although the quote at the top of their resolution said otherwise, Student Senate members were anything but on the fence about the City of Athens' plan to enclose Court Street and charge admission to Halloween.
Senate voted unanimously against the plan at tonight's meeting.
Following the University of Wisconsin's lead, City Council members proposed erecting a fence around the street in an effort to control the celebration. Senate members worried about safety and the legality of the proposal.
While this measure may be lined with good intentions . . . the problems with these plans far outweigh the possible benefits
said Tim Vonville, the Off-Campus Life commissioner.
Charging admission would push partiers to other areas of the city, said Bob Redd, State and Federal Affairs senator.
Nearly every student I've talked to would not attend a party on Court Street if they were forced to pay he said.
Other Senate members voiced concern about emergency vehicles' access to the area and whether or not the city can legally charge guests of students who live on Court Street to get into the building.
Despite Senate's disapproval of the fence idea, members were more supportive of the university's decision to charge residence hall guests $25 over Halloween weekend.
Is $25 too much to ask for how the university's reputation is consistently trashed every year? asked Will Wemer, LGBT Affairs commissioner. This is a City of Athens thing G said Gabrielle Smith, South Green senator and RA in Crawford Hall. But the compensation doesn't make it worth all the things they are expected to do.
Kent Smith, vice president for Student Affairs, said even with the increased pay, OU would be middle of the pack at best in comparison with its peer institutions.
RAs receive 61 percent of the cost of a single room plus a $713 quarterly stipend. As a comparison, senate members said RAs at the University of Maryland receive a single room, a full meal plan and a $250 stipend per semester.
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Emily Grannis
Group supports $25 on-campus guest fee
