In response to the fires that occurred at this year's Palmerfest and High Fest, Athens police will take a zero-tolerance attitude toward unlawful conduct at upcoming fests.
Previously, the informal policy of the Athens Police Department was to issue warnings before shutting down a party. Now, in some cases, parties will be shut down after the minimum required one violation
according to a statement from the department.
Last weekend, Athens police - on horseback and wearing riot gear - shut down Palmerfest for the second year in a row after partygoers started a couch fire in the street at about 11 p.m.
Ohio University President Roderick McDavis held a meeting in the Cutler Hall conference room with the mayor, both police chiefs, the president of Student Senate, and other city and university officials to discuss how to handle the upcoming fests, according to a campuswide e-mail McDavis sent yesterday.
The e-mail condemn(ed) the dangerous behaviors of individuals at recent fests and warned that OU students cited at fests will be punished by University Judiciaries and prosecuted by local authorities.
In the past (police) may have allowed some things to happen. No longer said Kent Smith, vice president for Student Affairs, who attended the meeting. If someone has an open container
they're going to be cited. If they don't follow the rules of not being in the street and on the sidewalks
they're going to be cited
and possibly arrested ... even if they are just a bystander. Our view is
(bystanders) are part of the problem because they are part of a crowd participating in negative behavior.
Smith added that if OU students are cited at the fests, their cases will be treated as a top priority and will move quickly through University Judiciaries.
The city will enforce (the laws) like students have never seen before
Smith said. There will be no warning; there will be citations and arrests if the laws are broken. It's gone too far. We're at the point where we can't tolerate this behavior. What students and people who live in houses have to realize is they don't have a right to take over streets and light fires. ... People could die
and their lives could be changed forever.
Offenses that could trigger the nuisance party ordinance include, but are not limited to: disorderly conduct; illegal open containers; outdoor urination or defecation in a public place; unlawful sale, furnishing, dispensing or consumption of alcohol; public indecency; littering; unlawful pedestrian or vehicular traffic; and unlawfully loud noise, according to the release.
We've been laid back about it so far
said Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl, who also attended yesterday's meeting. We're going to have to change tactics and make sure we don't have injuries.
Student Senate President Robert Leary, the only student present at the meeting, said he agrees with the new procedures.
I think some measure needs to be taken in response to (Palmerfest) to show that if we don't act responsibly
we will no longer be able to have these fun
