2008 Woodie Awards
New proposed council ban undermines end vote
Issue date: 3/23/07 Section: Editorials
Three new proposals were discussed before the Oxford City Council March 20, which if passed, will increase current penalties for noise and litter violations and ban non-outdoor furniture such as tables, chairs and plywood boards in Oxford. These separate measures were introduced to strengthen current regulations at the same city council meeting during which the outdoor drinking game ban ordinance was defeated by a 4-1 margin.
At first glance, the new proposals appear to be compromise measures, following an Associated Student Government (ASG) recommendation and months of debate. However, upon closer examination, the outdoor furniture restriction appears to be an ambiguous and roundabout attempt to limit outdoor drinking games. In light of this, Miami University students and ASG must stay active and urge Oxford City Council to take all concerns into account with the new proposals.
Importantly, in resolving this drawn-out debate, city council needs to clarify its motivations, as the council has been conflating the distinct goals of "improving the aesthetics" of the Oxford community. Rather, the newly proposed furniture restriction appears to be a veiled attempt to eliminate outdoor drinking games by disguising the legislation as a benign aesthetic initiative. The vague wording of the proposal also presents a number of problems regarding enforcement and interpretation. If the proposal goes into effect, students may be confused as to what kind of furniture is allowed outside and when it is allowed to be outside. The proposal must clarify what is acceptable under the outdoor furniture guidelines.
Ultimately, the new noise and litter sanctions are welcomed, but the new outdoor furniture ban is about eliminating games such as beer pong and cornhole. It would be regrettable that after doing such a commendable job of taking students' concerns into consideration, certain members of the Oxford City Council would resort to a perceivably deceitful proposal in order to undermine student interests.
Along these lines, it is also hoped that this issue will be resolved while the majority of Miami students are present in the community, and not tabled until the summer when their voices can effectively be ignored. This debate on outdoor activities is still alive, and this editorial board urges students to stay active in the dialogue, for only through participation can they ensure that their interests are protected.
At first glance, the new proposals appear to be compromise measures, following an Associated Student Government (ASG) recommendation and months of debate. However, upon closer examination, the outdoor furniture restriction appears to be an ambiguous and roundabout attempt to limit outdoor drinking games. In light of this, Miami University students and ASG must stay active and urge Oxford City Council to take all concerns into account with the new proposals.
Importantly, in resolving this drawn-out debate, city council needs to clarify its motivations, as the council has been conflating the distinct goals of "improving the aesthetics" of the Oxford community. Rather, the newly proposed furniture restriction appears to be a veiled attempt to eliminate outdoor drinking games by disguising the legislation as a benign aesthetic initiative. The vague wording of the proposal also presents a number of problems regarding enforcement and interpretation. If the proposal goes into effect, students may be confused as to what kind of furniture is allowed outside and when it is allowed to be outside. The proposal must clarify what is acceptable under the outdoor furniture guidelines.
Ultimately, the new noise and litter sanctions are welcomed, but the new outdoor furniture ban is about eliminating games such as beer pong and cornhole. It would be regrettable that after doing such a commendable job of taking students' concerns into consideration, certain members of the Oxford City Council would resort to a perceivably deceitful proposal in order to undermine student interests.
Along these lines, it is also hoped that this issue will be resolved while the majority of Miami students are present in the community, and not tabled until the summer when their voices can effectively be ignored. This debate on outdoor activities is still alive, and this editorial board urges students to stay active in the dialogue, for only through participation can they ensure that their interests are protected.
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