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Hopkins forms group to look at City's noise ordinance bill
Issue date: 4/26/07
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A group of six administrators will be meeting next week to discuss issues surrounding city legislation that, if passed, will enable the eviction of residents from their homes if they are cited twice for exceeding a noise level of 55 decibels.
The legislation does not intend to change the level of allowed noise, but it outlines a proposal that will make enforcement stronger and punishment harsher.
"We thought it would be useful to understand more fully what the proposed ordinance said, what the impact on our students would be, what kinds of activities would be affected, etc.," said Dean of Undergraduate Education Paula Burger, who will be attending the meeting.
The meeting will be held to establish an official university position on the ordinance.
"There is no preconceived notion of what the outcome of the meeting should be," University spokesperson Dennis O'Shea said.
In the meantime, administrators are not taking positions that suggest University policy will change significantly if the law is enacted.
"I don't personally believe at this time that the passage of this ordinance will alter the University's support of students or change our policies towards student life," said Community Liaison Carrie Bennett, another of the meeting's planned attendants.
However, she said, "I will have to reevaluate how I currently patrol and how I try to educate our students about off-campus housing issues."
One possible result of the bill's passage will be an increased sensitivity of landlords to complaints of excessive noise. This practice of self-patrol may lead to more evictions if renters do not adjust their noisy behaviors. This applies, for example, to fraternity houses whose parties may cause tension with neighbors. One long-debated proposal is for a so-called fraternity row, a concentration of fraternity houses in an area apart from neighboring residences.
There is no guarantee, however, that such a proposal will materialize.
The legislation does not intend to change the level of allowed noise, but it outlines a proposal that will make enforcement stronger and punishment harsher.
"We thought it would be useful to understand more fully what the proposed ordinance said, what the impact on our students would be, what kinds of activities would be affected, etc.," said Dean of Undergraduate Education Paula Burger, who will be attending the meeting.
The meeting will be held to establish an official university position on the ordinance.
"There is no preconceived notion of what the outcome of the meeting should be," University spokesperson Dennis O'Shea said.
In the meantime, administrators are not taking positions that suggest University policy will change significantly if the law is enacted.
"I don't personally believe at this time that the passage of this ordinance will alter the University's support of students or change our policies towards student life," said Community Liaison Carrie Bennett, another of the meeting's planned attendants.
However, she said, "I will have to reevaluate how I currently patrol and how I try to educate our students about off-campus housing issues."
One possible result of the bill's passage will be an increased sensitivity of landlords to complaints of excessive noise. This practice of self-patrol may lead to more evictions if renters do not adjust their noisy behaviors. This applies, for example, to fraternity houses whose parties may cause tension with neighbors. One long-debated proposal is for a so-called fraternity row, a concentration of fraternity houses in an area apart from neighboring residences.
There is no guarantee, however, that such a proposal will materialize.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 2
Glen
posted 4/28/07 @ 1:21 AM EST
Re: Hopkins forms group to look at City's noise ordinance bill
I think that it's GREAT. ZERO TOLERANCE. I hope that they go through with it, both in the city AND on the campus. (Continued…)
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