URI students debate orange sticker policy at open forum

10/30/07 - About 60 University of Rhode Island students gathered in the Memorial Union Ballroom last night to voice their opinions about the orange sticker policy at an open forum hosted by the Student Senate.Tom Ahrens, the URI Student Senate external affairs committee chairman, addressed students. "We need to unify on what [the issues are] in this policy," he said. "Unless we get your input we're as powerless as 10 people."

Upon entering, students were handed copies of the "unruly gatherings" ordinance, as well as a list of student rights and an explanation of off-campus jurisdiction.

After a general explanation of the policy, students were invited to step up to a microphone to voice any questions or comments. A panel of eight senate members sat on the stage and took turns responding to students.

"A house can't commit a crime, a house is not a person," said Jesse Whitsitt-Lynch, a former student senator. "Why are we treating students differently?"

Public urination and altercations, as well as littering are common complaints from year-round Narragansett residents that leads to an orange sticker being issued. Students argue that these actions are typically those of individuals.

Whitsitt-Lynch said he would like to see individuals held personally accountable for their actions and tried in municipal court, as any other offender would be.

"This is a public standard that's unacceptable," Student Senate President Neil Leston said. "It's unnecessary to punish someone having a 300 person rager the same way you would with people watching a baseball game and getting a little loud," Leston said, explaining that only five people need to be in attendance for it to be declared an unruly gathering.

Several students felt that the policy is worded vaguely.

When a student asked what constitutes a noise violation, Leston said that there is a specific decibel that noise should not exceed.

"As far as noise, I think it's pretty subjective," Leston said. "No one's out there measuring decibel levels."

Most agreed that the sticker damages the reputation of students.

Cristin Langworthy, Academic Affairs Chairwoman for the Student Senate, called the orange sticker, referred to as a "scarlet letter" to many, "a mark of shame."

"Having it outside the building adds insult on top of injury," she said, adding that the sticker humiliates students.

Leston agreed it was unnecessary.

"I'd rather see murderers dressed in orange," said Leston. Students responded with laughter.

Ahrens reminded students they have the right to refuse to sign paperwork upon receiving a sticker; this does not adversely affect them.

Jen Scranton, a resident assistant in Ellery Hall said the sticker can also damage the reputation of the neighborhood. "It hurts all Narragansett residents," she said.

A neighborhood littered with stickers does not help residents trying to rent or sell their houses.

URI Alumni Joe Franchina, '71, and his wife Judy, '70 , are residents of Narragansett who attended the forum. Joe Franchina said students live in his neighborhood and sometimes throw rowdy parties. He recalled a party last Friday hosted by his neighbors, during which he awoke to attendees yelling offensive language loudly, and in the morning found half empty bottles of liquor scattered on lawns.

"You can't imagine how startling this is," Franchina said. "I tend to feel more like a victim than an attacker here," he said.

Franchina added that he and his wife did not attend the forum to judge, but rather to gain some perspective.

"I think we have to have a sense of courtesy, we have two groups who think the absolute worst [of each other]," he said.

His wife agreed. "This is our home and we want to enjoy where we live," Judy Franchina said.

Judy Franchina said that when she attended URI there weren't as many students living off campus, but she recalled attending parties down the line. "Of course I wasn't the person living next door then," she laughed.

"We always know when September comes around," Joe Franchina said, adding that noise levels increase and students often break speed limits on residential streets.

"When you're a student you don't see these things," Franchina said.

Franchina said that when his neighbors are disruptive he talks to students before calling the police.

Ahrens agreed that communication is necessary for students and year-round residents to respect each other and urged students to exchange phone numbers with neighbors.

Other students voiced that the campus offers little to do on weekends and the noise restrictions in dorms were strict. It is this factor, a student said, that drives students to Narragansett.

Lynch said this can contribute to drunken driving. "Here we have a policy that is eventually going to get people killed," he said, adding that police ask everyone to leave the house when breaking up a party, which can mean some are driving impaired.

Scott Beer, a URI senior, said he was disappointed by the turn out. "I would've liked to have seen more residents," he said. "I still feel like students are uninformed."

Ahrens said that about 1,000 students were invited through Facebook.com, word of mouth and on-campus advertising.

Ahrens said that senate is working privately with a lawyer.