URI-Narragansett Coalition offers drinking law update

11/19/08 - A joint meeting among University of Rhode Island and Narragansett officials brought an opportunity to discuss alcohol-related issues facing both communities, such as the town's "orange sticker policy" and off-campus parties. The purpose of the URI-Narragansett Coalition is to help promote mutual respect between the two communities.

Vice President for University Advancement Robert Beagle and Josh Feinberg, former Student Senate's chief operation officer, represented URI in Narragansett Town Hall last night before about 100 people.

The two sides were there for approximately two hours to raise awareness of town ordinances and facilitate discussion among those present.

Narragansett Town Manager Jeff Cesarine and Chief of Police Joseph Little represented the town.

Inter-Fraternity Council President Phil Bowers and the President of URI's Student Senate Tom Ahrens also attended the meeting. Ahrens gave a speech during an open forum that drew applause from both Narragansett residents and URI students.

"We need to say to each other that we need to be more responsible in many situations," Ahrens, an off-campus resident, said. "I think we should make the point that the university has made a lot of efforts to work with the town of Narragansett."

Beagle began the meeting with a speech about the university's branding initiative, an effort to distinguish URI from other universities. He said the university has been successful in abolishing its party image, an assertion that was met with varying degrees of agreement.

"I actually do agree with that," said Ann Knowles, a resident of Briggs Farm. "I think the kids are really trying. I find most of [students] very respectful."

Her colleague and fellow Briggs Farm resident Jill Lawler agreed.

"When I was applying to college in the '80s, URI was known as a big party school," Lawler said. "I think as far as being an academic school, it's pulled up on that."

But Lois Ohberg, another Narragansett resident, said URI may have gotten rid of its party image, but the partying has moved off campus.

"No, not in the neighborhood I'm living in," she said after the meeting. "They're drinking. I mean there's so much more to life than drinking."

During the meeting, Ohberg said students also break glass bottles in the road, steal street signs and leave trash on their neighbors' lawns.

Bowers, who is a senior, said the university has stepped-up collaboration efforts during his tenure at URI.

"I think that people are really working for change," he said. "It's a completely different school than it was four years ago. We have been here, the communication has definitely grown stronger."

In a discussion of the orange sticker policy, Cesarine said a gathering of five or more people who "constitute a substantial disturbance of the peace," can be given the citation. Examples of situations warranting a citation, Cesarine said, would be fights, distribution of alcohol to minors and public intoxication.

He said the policy was instituted in 2005 and updated in 2007. Updates included increasing the associated fines and mandating community service for repeat offenders, Cesarine said.

Cesarine, Little and Narragansett Patrol Officer Desiree Dugan - who has given out at least one orange sticker - said the measure is also meant to act as a deterrent for heavy consumption of alcohol at parties, which can result in death.

"It's not just a case of the police department feeling the need to put a sticker on someone's house," Cesarine said.

The measure came under fire from the American Civil Liberties Union, which is saying the policy was discriminatory, unconstitutional and an invasion of privacy. The ACLU has a pending lawsuit in federal court against the town.

"We do not have a trial date for that now, so there's really not much else I can say about the status," Cesarine said.

According to the policy, stickers given during the academic year will be taken down May 31. Because the end date is so close to the actual end of the school year, it is one of the conditions the ACLU is questioning.

After the meeting, Cesarine said that date was chosen in conjunction with statistics that say tourists begin moving into Narragansett houses at around that date, which is a few weeks after URI students move out. But the date was not chosen specifically because of URI student departure, Cesarine said.

He pointed out the policy does not only apply to renters, which are largely URI students. The policy can also apply to owners and is also in effect during the summer tourist season when URI students wouldn't be around.

Dugan showed a slide presentation that provided updated alcohol laws in Narragansett.

She said it is illegal to knowingly purchase alcohol for anyone under 21 and illegal to allow people under 21 to consume alcohol, unless the alcohol is given by a parent or guardian. This law is known in Rhode Island as the "Social-Host Law."

It is also illegal for those under 21 to knowingly transport alcohol in their car, and illegal for anyone of any age to transport an open container of alcohol in their car.

It is also illegal to be publicly intoxicated, and anyone under 21 who provides alcohol can also be charged, but this law does not apply to renters or owners not present at the time of the offense, Dugan said.

Fines for violations range from $200 to $2,500, depending on repeat offenses, and judicial action can also amount to up to three years in prison with repeat offenses, she said.

Dugan encouraged residents to call for emergency assistance during periods of high intoxication to prevent extreme situations, including death.