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In May 2007, the city of Oxford revised an ordinance to make it illegal for students to store certain furniture items intended for indoor use outside. This included couches, recliners and especially tables used to play the drinking game beer pong.
Since the passing of the outdoor furniture ordinance, 26 residents of Oxford have been cited with a violation under the revised ordinance, according to Oxford Police Department (OPD). The real change in the law as of last May extended the violation from a minor misdemeanor to a fourth degree misdemeanor.
According to OPD Office Manager Amy Gabbard, the difference between the old and new charges is that while a minor misdemeanor carries a $100 fine and no jail time (since it is a non-arrestable offense), a fourth degree misdemeanor carries a $250 fine or 30 days in jail. She also said that while not all the 26 citations for outdoor furniture have been beer pong tables, a majority have been.
Sgt. Jim Squance of OPD said community members who wished to improve the appearance of the city of Oxford proposed the ordinance.
"The heart of the matter was that the community wanted a solid perception for visitors," Squance said. "And that was a clean, safe and orderly place that is family-oriented."
Though Squance said that OPD has experienced mostly compliance with the ordinance, junior Nate Brunk said he thinks the law is too much.
"I think it is absolutely ridiculous that I have been put on the same level as a criminal," Brunk said. "I don't think its about the (fine money). It's the fact that they could potentially mess up someone's future livelihood."
Brunk said that when he answered the door a few weeks ago, he spoke to an officer who told him that Police Chief Steve Schwein was walking on the train tracks behind Brunk's 112 S. Elm St. residence and saw two beer pong tables.
Brunk contended in his no contest plea that the tables could not be seen from any public space. Brunk said he conducted a lot of research before his court appearance Friday, April 11 and said that according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, train tracks are private property.
Brunk said that although he and his two roommates split the $80 court costs and the $250 fine three equal ways, he is still the only one who carries a forth degree misdemeanor on his record. Brunk said he was in Luxembourg last semester, so he was not here when the ordinance really went into effect for students.
Above all, Brunk said he is mainly concerned with his hope of a position at Teach for America. He said that applicants may not have a criminal record, and this misdemeanor may not be expunged from his record before he applies next spring.
"I think it's despicable," Brunk said. "We have been committed to keeping Oxford a safe and clean place, and it is doing a disservice to us by imposing on our property and our privacy."
Squance said that police hope that the word spreads about the beer pong ordinance, so that next year there will be dramatically fewer citations. He said the ordinance states that no furniture manufactured for interior use should be on the exterior of the house. He also said that beer pong tables are allowed outside, but residents must be actively using the table for its purpose.
Outdoor furniture violations occur, according to Squance, when the table is left outside and there is no one using it.
