Ever since the Social Host Ordinance was passed this January, it received extensive criticism from students. On Monday, the police cited seven students $700 each for having a party that fell under the guidelines of an unruly gathering. Most students still might not know what counts as an unruly gathering, and what just a casual get-together is. The ASUO and The Office of the Dean of Students partnered together to host a town hall meeting at Willamette Hall Wednesday night to help students better understand how the ordinance affects you.
The town hall panel consisted of Alan Zelenka; Eugene Councilor for the university district, Paul Shang; UO Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students; Eugene city prosecutor Dan Barkovic; Eugene Police Sgt. David Natt; Ken Kato, UO faculty member and a university neighborhood resident; and Ashley Penington, a Peer Health educator in the Substance Abuse Prevention Program.
Zelenka was an integral part of the Social Host Ordinance since the legislation was proposed. His motivation for the ordinance isn’t to punish people who party, but instead to control those who consistently disturb the peace through partying.
“We want this ordinance to be the accountability mechanism that was missing from parties,” Zelenka said.
Zelenka reminded people that this ordinance is a citywide regulation – a sentiment that was echoed by Eugene prosecutor Barkovic. Barkovic broke down what the fines are for every time someone is cited.
The first citation is a presumptive fee of $375, however, the judge can choose to lessen the fine, or increase it to a maximum of $1,000 if the judge deems to. The second citation deals with what the price was of bringing the police out to the party, and the third citation seeks administrative penalties from the owner of the property – even if the owner is a tenant who rents out the property.
If there is a fourth citation, the fine involves administrative penalties to the owner and the cost of the police going out to the party.
Peer Health Educator Ashley Pennington’s main goal is to get students aware of the ordinance — specifically what constitutes an unruly gathering over a casual one. Pennington keeps the guidelines simple: if it’s illegal, then it’s unruly behavior. Public urination, vandalism, and noise complaints are the general criteria for what is considered to be an out of control party.
“Something as little as making sure everyone at your party isn’t a minor would pretty much put you in the clear of an unruly gathering,” Penington said. “If you’re having a party where you’re serving alcohol to minors, then that will put you under an unruly gathering.”
When the floor opened to the audience, one student asked Sgt. Natt if there would be an increase of police patrolling due to the ordinance. Nat said that he doesn’t see any reason why there would be an increase in police presence, especially since they only respond to parties if there are noise complaints.
The consistent theme throughout the town hall meeting was to present the ordinance as a way of building responsibility and to create a strong foundation of communication between students and the Eugene police.
“There are three things that we really want to come from the Social Ordinance,” said Zelenka. “We want the ordinance to make the community quieter, livable, and more importantly, a safer place.”