COLUMBUS -- As you know, for the past two weekends residents living in the 12^th, 13^th and Chittenden areas - and last weekend on Norwich Avenue - have participated in riotous behavior. Out-of-control parties fueled by the easy availability and overconsumption of alcohol have spawned behavior that we consider outrageous and totally unacceptable.

Last weekend, we put in place a number of initiatives that we had hoped might prevent such activities from occurring again. We were wrong. Despite our best efforts to distribute Smart Party/responsible host kits, talk with hosts about the need to control the parties they’re planning, offer activities such as a free barbecue in two locations, notify landlords of the buildings where parties were planned and deploy many Student Affairs representatives into the neighborhoods to counsel students on appropriate behavior, we once again had riots - this time on Norwich Avenue and on 13^th.

To repeat, the university administration and the entire university community find this behavior outrageous and unacceptable. Faculty, staff and many students are appalled by what has gone on during the past couple of weekends. In addition to the university community, we have received countless calls from the public, encouraging us to take swift and severe action against those who participate in such activities. The so-called “campus riots” have been a principal topic on talk radio in Columbus, and it is clear that the city is fed up with this kind of behavior.

So are we. Thus, we took a number of steps this week to ask appropriate groups for their support in trying to prevent further weekend disturbances. First, student leaders sent e-mail to all students, asking them to step forward and help us identify those students committing serious offenses. Parents have received two letters – one from President Kirwan and the other from Mayor Coleman and Council President Habash –to advise them of the situation and to encourage them to speak with their children about staying away from these troublesome areas. We also sent letters to area high school principals and Ohio college presidents, asking them to do what they can to discourage their students from coming to the campus area and alerting them to the dangers of these events.

We have asked campus area landlords to help and several have agreed. Among the suggestions we have offered landlords are asking them to share with their students the new Code of Student Conduct; remind them of their responsibilities as tenants; remove flammable materials from porches, parking lots and building-adjacent areas; have their dumpsters emptied on Friday and Saturday of each week, even if it is not the regular service schedule; hire off-duty police officers for each weekend until the end of the quarter to provide extra security on their properties; and work with Columbus police to control the dangerous and illegal behavior in common areas. We have also asked them to encourage their tenants to voluntarily refrain from hosting large parties for the remainder of the quarter.

We’ve also spoken to the three local beer distributors and retail representatives to ask for their help in changing the dynamic in the neighborhood this weekend. At the request of the mayor, several local retailers - Kroger, Big Bear and UDF - have agreed to sell only cans in their campus area stores this weekend to try and reduce the damage and potential injury from broken glass bottles. The Miller distributor has talked with retailers about selling plastic bottles as well. And the Anheuser-Busch distributor has offered radio time for us to air public service announcements on the need for responsibility and a warning to those who break the law.

Beyond those activities, I will now lay out the actions we will take in the neighborhoods - all focused on holding those who host large, out-of-control parties accountable. I’d also like to add here that this proposal has been endorsed by the Council on Student Affairs, which represents the views of faculty and students.

First, students who host “out of control” parties will be immediately suspended from the university, followed promptly by judicial proceedings which could result in permanent dismissal from Ohio State.  We have been told that there will be a significant number of undercover officers from the State Liquor Control Board in the neighborhoods to seek out violations of liquor control policy. That means such things as charging money for beer at parties, serving underage drinkers, allowing the parties to spill into lawns and streets; having unruly guests throwing bottles or other objects from the property; and guests climbing on or attempting to overturn vehicles. In the absence of clear evidence to the contrary, hosts will be defined as those whose names are on the lease and who are present on the lease premises during the party.

Second, lawn parties of any size are strongly discouraged. As the past weekends have demonstrated, it is extremely difficult to control these parties, even when the hosts have the best of intentions. Students who choose to ignore this advice and hold an outdoor party should be aware that they are assuming a very high risk of being sanctioned.

Third, any students engage in dangerous, destructive or riotous behavior or other activities that threaten health or safety also will be subject to the judicial process under the Code of Student Conduct, which also could result in sanctions up to and including permanent dismissal from the university. In addition, they also may be subject to arrest and prosecution or civil liability.

Finally, I just want to say a few words about the work of Columbus Police and Mayor’s office. We applaud their efforts to work with us to solve this problem that is damaging not only the university’s reputation, but that of the city as well. We are grateful for their commitment to increased enforcement and punishment – in fact one individual who was arrested and charged in conjunction with last weekend’s disturbance yesterday was sentenced to 30 days in jail. That individual was not an Ohio State student, but we would expect and support similar treatment for any of our students convicted of similar offenses. This weekend, we expect law enforcement officers will take increased action for violations of laws prohibiting open containers of alcohol on public property and consumption of alcohol by persons under 21.

We are all aware that the vast majority of Ohio State University students are responsible, mature and a credit to the university and our community. Unfortunately, it is this disruptive few - many of whom are not even our students - causing the problems we’ve experienced over the last few weeks.

We will not stand by while our safety - and that of the entire Columbus community - is being compromised by the diversion of large numbers of police officers from their regular duties to deal with these behaviors; nor will we tolerate those who facilitate, foster or participate in these behaviors.

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