Juniors Ryan Soskin and Nick Riedel play beer pong outside of a house off of South College Avenue Thursday night. (Michael Pickering)
Oxford City Council's newest proposed ordinance has many Miami University students afraid that they may have to give up their outdoor beer pong privileges.
City Council presented the first reading of an ordinance Tuesday night which would "prohibit outdoor games and contests involving the consumption of alcohol," according to the text of the ordinance. A vote on the ordinance is planned for the next City Council meeting Nov.7.
Vice Mayor Prue Dana, who supports the ordinance "wholeheartedly," said it stems from the first weekend Miami University students returned to school, during which there was a high amount of crime involving students and alcohol.
"I think so many of us were shocked and so taken aback from the first weekend people came back to Miami," Dana said.
If passed, the ordinance would go into effect 30 days after it is approved. It would forbid all residents of Oxford from participating in alcoholic games outside the home and require that all materials used be transferred inside the resident's house. It lists beer pong, flip cup and chugging contests as examples of games that would be prohibited.
Violators would be charged $100, $250 and $500 for the first, second and third offenses respectively. Subsequent offenses continue with a $500 fine.
Because the ordinance prohibits alcohol games played in public view, house porches would be included as part of the outside vicinity.
Tables, plywood boards and other devices used for games involving alcohol placed outside of a house and in view of a public street or sidewalk are also explicitly banned.
City Councilor and Miami anthropology professor Alysia Fischer explained part of the reasoning behind the ordinance.
"The relatively recent appearance of beer pong tables in our community has led to an increase in over-consumption of alcohol, party litter, noise disturbances, and has a potentially negative effect on impressionable members of our community," Fischer said.
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Miami's Associated Student Government (ASG) challenged Fischer's statement, questioning if there is actual data indicating there has been a rise in alcohol games.
"I don't think there has been a rise," said Jennifer House, secretary for off-campus affairs for ASG. "No one has given me any data that shows the number of beer pong tables have gone up."
Oxford Police officials searched the Oxford area earlier this week for visible alcohol-related paraphernalia outside homes. Although it was a cold and dreary day, they found what they thought were 75 beer pong tables placed outside resident's homes.
Lt. Bob Holzworth of the Oxford Police Department said he expects this number would double on a warmer weekend.
Students have argued that this ordinance would impose upon the private property rights of an individual.
But according to Oxford's Law Director, Steve McHugh, because there is a compelling state interest, it is not an infringement upon private property rights. To maintain its image, he said the city of Oxford has the right to control anything that affects the appearance of the city.
From a slightly different perspective, Holzworth said that the ordinance deals with a safety issue. He said that there has been a significant rise in calls for service, liquor and noise violations, and litter complains.
"(The ordinance) needs to be passed because it's another tool to give police another way to deal with the over-consumption and overuse of alcohol," Holzworth said. "We realize drinking is a part of the college experience, but it needs to be appropriate and right now, it's not appropriate."
According to a report prepared by Oxford Police Chief Stephan Schwein, alcoholic games performed outside the home reduce the aesthetic beauty of the community and reflect poorly on the character of Oxford and the university. According to the report, this serves as an unsightly reminder that many individuals perceive alcohol abuse as a game.
"Alcohol has never been as big a problem for Miami students as it is now," said City Councilor Doug Ross. "The alcohol consumption of Miami students continues to have a greater negative influence on the health of the town. These beer games start many of the problems that end up with many visits to the police and/or the hospital."
Miami's administration has also been actively involved in the issue of alcohol abuse among students. In a letter to Oxford City Council, Jeffrey Potteiger, chair of the Alcohol Abuse Prevention Task Force and Dean of Students Susan Mosley-Howard wrote that the administration applauds the city officials who have taken an affirmative stance suggesting that over-consumption of alcohol is not a game. However according to ASG, Mosley-Howard also said that student input should be considered in this ordinance.
Furthermore, members believe house parties that include outdoor alcoholic games produce an abundance of litter.
Ross said that at the end of each weekend, Oxford looks like "a bunch of trashy alcoholics."
Of the six city councilors, Councilor Dave Prows is one who does not support the ordinance. He said that people who think it will work are "living in a dream world." Prows said this ordinance is unnecessary because the city already has several ordinances that govern the behavior in Oxford.
"We have public intoxication ordinances, underage drinking ordinances, noise ordinances," Prows said. "I believe any one of these could be used if any particular party gets out of hand. (Binge drinking) comes from each individual's choice at the time. It didn't work in Prohibition; it's not going to work now. You can't legislate against stupidity in certain respects."
Prows noted that while he will not support the ordinance, he feels that if students upheld responsibility in maintaining the cleanliness of the town on weekends, this ordinance may have been prevented.
Jennifer House spent time earlier this week approaching random students asking their opinion regarding the ordinance.
Many students asked the reasoning behind the formation of the ordinance if alcoholic games do not offend anyone.
Many Miami students raised concerns that council should first discuss with them to find a solution rather than immediately forming an ordinance.
In agreement, City Councilor, Alan Kyger said student input should be heard. He believes a compromise, which would state games involving alcohol are only permitted in the backyards of houses, would be ideal.
"To me this isn't to stop drinking," Kyger said. "To me the purpose of this is an issue of respect of the property and keeping your property picked up and cleaned up."
In a meeting Wednesday night, ASG discussed forming a resolution to counter City Council's ordinance and discuss possibilities for a compromise.
Because of the lack of communication between City Council and Miami students, ASG representatives will be posting flyers around campus and petitioning Miami students in order to raise awareness.
"It's not that I don't think this (alcohol consumption) is an issue," House said. "There has been no student communication. Since students make up such a large part of the city, I feel that members of council need to listen to the members of the community because the issue affects so many people they represent. We just want to open up the lines of communication regarding this issue."
Council stated that students are welcome to voice their concerns regarding the ordinance at their next meeting at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7.
However, the second reading and vote of the ordinance will be held that same night.
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