Campus Life : Eye on OU : Year in Review
Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?
Speakeasy examines policy changes at OU over the past year
By Brigitta Burks, Staff Writer
Samantha Pirc, Campus Life writer
June 1, 2007 | 12:05 p.m.
Policy is what defines a university. It’s what makes up the day-to-day life of a school. It’s also what gets students in trouble. 2007 was a defining year for not only the administration of Ohio University, but also for anyone who has ever been “busted.” Chances are you’ve illegally downloaded, drank alcohol or at least been locked out on occasion. If any of these are applicable to you, then the policy changes of 2007 made or broke your year.
The gloomy tune of the RIAA
At the center of the media storm that Ohio University policy has become is the issue of illegal downloading. This February, the Recording Industry Association of America named Ohio University the No. 1 school for the amount of illegal downloading. According to Ohio University Outlook, over 1,200 notices of illegal downloads were sent. Over 50 “lucky” students were forwarded letters via Ohio University from the RIAA informing them of the need to settle with the organization.
Kent Smith, vice president for student affairs, has been quoted as saying, “This is a Code A offense under the Student Code of Conduct. Simply put, this is a form of stealing and a prohibited use of the university's computer network.” Students who are found “guilty” will have their Internet access shut off. Once this occurs, judiciaries are made aware of the situation.
Locked out
Getting locked out of the dorm has never been easier. Since the Virginia Tech shootings, residence halls are now locked 24/7 with the exception of Bromley and Scott Quad Halls and the main entrance to Boyd and Jefferson during the week. Usually this situation entails frantic calls to an annoyed roommate or friend to get into the building.
For the individuals who had to get an RA to let them into their dorm rooms, money became an issue. If a student is locked out between 8 a.m. and midnight, a $5 fee is applied. A $10 fee is assigned between midnight and 8 a.m. There is one “freebie” before any fees are issued. The moral of the story? Don’t get locked out.
False alarm
Residents of Sargent Hall and other dorms on campus were fired up when they were informed that setting off the buildings’ fire alarms would cost them $2,000. The warning came after an excessive number of alarms went off in Sargent Hall following the installation of a new, more sensitive fire alarm system.
Luckily for students who burn their popcorn or really like to get their hair dry, the false alarm fee does not apply to them. The warning was caused by a misunderstanding in a change in the Athens City Code. The change actually meant that a fee would be added every time the fire department has to respond to a false alarm, something like a drunk person thinking it would be funny to wake everyone up at 3 a.m. by pulling the alarm. The ordinance does not apply to legitimate alarms. For example, when popcorn is burned in a microwave, it triggers the alarm system, which means the system is serving its intended purpose, according to Interim Director of Residence Life Judy Piercy.
The reign has ended
After years of being the king of party schools (at least in Ohio), OU students were dealt a damaging blow. Sick of being on the top of the list for parties and heavy drinking in the country, OU officials finally decided that something must be done. To help improve the university’s negative image and decrease the amount of high-risk behavior, a new, stronger alcohol policy was implemented this past fall.
Some of the biggest changes are that students can now be tried in both judiciary and Athens City courts and the notification of parents of first-time offenders with fewer than 90 credit hours who are under the age of 21. While some looked at this new policy as nothing more then a public relations move, early numbers showed that the number of alcohol-related offenses fall quarter fell significantly when compared to fall of 2005.
When one door closes...
A successful new alcohol policy at OU helped bring the number of drinking-related offenses down but did nothing to combat a different type of illegal activity. During fall quarter, the number of drug-related offenses increased by 59 percent when compared with last year. While students could not drink as openly and as easily as before, hardly any attention was being paid to smoking, swallowing or sniffing drugs.
To help deal with this growing problem, the university began to look at its current policy and has taken steps to clear up vague language and improve sanctions. OU’s Student Senate passed a resolution that contained suggestions for the university on how it best believed the new policy should be written.
“Even I was a little confused while reading it over,” Senate President Morgan Allen was quoted as saying. “We want to make it easier for students to understand.”
Smokers kicked out
With the passage of Issue Five on Nov. 7, 2006, Ohio voters decided to ban smoking in any public place or place of employment. This decision meant that Ohio joined the many other states across the country that no longer allow smoking in restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, schools and businesses.
While all dorms and buildings on OU’s campus were already smoke-free, the amount of litter caused from this new ban was a concern for some. With so many smokers being forced outside and ashtrays being removed, many felt that the number of butts on the street was bound to increase.