IUSA to warn students of 'Quiet Night's ordinance'

The IU Student Association members will be going around to various student off-campus residences, handing out information regarding the City of Bloomington's "Quiet Nights" initiative. \nThe initiative is a city-wide ordinance, requiring residents to curb noise coming from their home. The ordinance allows police to investigate any noise complaint between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., giving tenants a $50 fine.\nIUSA President, senior Tyson Chastain said students who live off-campus should be aware of the ordinance and the consequences that can stem from a noise complaint. \n"A noise violation costs a student living off-campus $50," Chastain said. "It also gives the police the option of entering the house, which could lead to more problems."\nChastain and IUSA are being proactive in educating students on the rules and regulations regarding off-campus living, he said.\n"Students should know their rights," Chastain said. "We want to educate students on landlord/tennant issues, beverage laws and even how to put out their trash. We are giving students information, so they know what they are expected to do and don't do and to also make them know that they are protected."\nIUSA will be going to residences Thursday after their congress meeting. They will mainly go to downtown Bloomington in student-concentrated areas such as Smallwood Plaza and 10th and College streets to hang flyers on door handles informing them of their rights and obligations as community citizens. IUSA members will also answer any questions students may have regarding the "Quiet Nights" program.\nSenior Scott Norman, IUSA vice president, said students don't want to give up their money if they don't have to.\n"Students should want to keep the $50 spent on a noise violation in their pockets," Norman said. "They definitely don't want to give it to the cops."\nThe "Quiet Nights" program was instituted by the City of Bloomington in 2000 with the hopes of deterring excessive noise infractions, especially in family-oriented neighborhoods. \nMike Arnold, a neighborhood compliance officer with Housing and Neighborhood Development Committee, said any student organization that educates their peers on initiatives such as "Quiet Nights" will be well received.\n"I think it's a good thing," Arnold said. "Students tend to listen more to their peer group, rather than someone like myself, when they are being educated on municipal code issues."\nFor more information on "Quiet Nights," call 339-4477.\n-- Contact staff writer Eric Tash at etash@indiana.edu.