The Student Life Council passed an addition to the party policy regarding unauthorized open events Feb. 28.

Dr. Daniel Curran, university president, and other administrators recently officially approved the policy which is part of the Standards of Behavior, said Dr. William Schuerman, vice president for Student Development and dean of students.

Schuerman said the policy becomes effective and enforceable when an e-mail is sent to all students informing them of the addition to the online Student Handbook.

The Student Life Council, which includes faculty, staff and students, considered an alternative draft proposal submitted by SGA different from the draft published in issue 28 of Flyer News. Deliberations resulted in four 'clarifying' amendments to the draft presented by SGA, Schuerman said. The final document, containing the four amendments, was passed unanimously by the SLC.

'In the end, it was all passed unanimously, which I think signifies we have a consensus in the community,' Schuerman said.

This policy targets open unauthorized 'block' parties and neighborhood 'fests,' such as Lowesfest, not parties that occur on a regular weekend.

Schuerman said the administration would be willing to work with students to organize a sanctioned Lowesfest if the students would be willing to take responsible steps and measures to ensure students' safety. Such measures would include financing the event, hiring the appropriate number of police and law enforcement, roping off the area and controlling the perimeter, establishing clear access points to card people, obtaining a license from the state to serve alcohol at the event and exercising proper liquor distribution and consumption.

This adds up to thousands of dollars, he said.

If university officials receive information about unauthorized 'block parties' or neighborhood 'fests,' university officials may issue a temporary administrative injunction in a specific area, which would last no longer than 48 hours. The injunctions would direct students to cancel all party activity and non-registered plans. Students who violate the injunction are liable for costs to the university, the city of Dayton and public and personal property.

Schuerman said that despite the warnings last year of enforcing the party policy, crowd control issues and doubling of the PASS sanctions, a number of houses were issued citations. Some houses were fined $700 to $800, he said.

The main concern of the administration regarding events such as Lowesfest is the safety and security of students, Schuerman said.

'I'm satisfied with the policy, but I'm more satisfied with the productive dialogue between students and administrators,' said Patrick O'Grady, SGA president.

The overall message Schuerman hopes for students to understand is that people should take responsibility for organizing events.

'If people plan an event, they have to plan to take certain precautions for the conditions they create,' he said.

Lowes Street residences and administrators met Monday to discuss Lowesfest and the addition to the party policy.

Lauren Barney, residence of 442 Lowes St., said she appreciates the administration working with the students, but thinks the policy is not specific enough and fears being fined.

'I feel like when you actually live on Lowes and you hear about the all the ridiculous fines people get, it's not worth it,' Barney said. 'One day of fun isn't [worth] $300 worth of fines for me.'

Jen Spagnuolo, also a residence of 442 Lowes St, said: 'I am afraid of being fined for things I am not associated with or can control.'

Some students, including Tim Houston, residence of 456 Lowes St., are worried about the 12-person crowd control rule talked about last year.

Article 29.1 in the Student Handbook states that students hosting parties in university-owned or landlord houses that 'attract large crowds will be held directly responsible when such events result in crowd control problems.' The number of persons is not stated.

'The only way we're going to work through some of these challenges is to keep communicating effectively,' O'Grady said.

To view the party policy addition to University Standards of Behavior in the Student Handbook, visit campus.udayton.edu/~studev/studenthandbook.