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A panel of Bloomsburg University administrators, law enforcement officials, and Bloomsburg Major Dan Knorr gave an open forum on Block Party regulations Tuesday in Kehr Union. The pannel explained their expectations on student behavior and conduct during the annual event, slated for April 17.
Dr. Jeff Long, interim vice-president for Student Affairs, introduced the panel and then allowed Mayor Knorr to address the approximately 40 students who attended. Knorr stated that the reason for the forum was to "recap what the laws were in town [and] what the state laws are." Chief Leo Sokolowski of the Bloomsburg Police Department reminded those gathered of the local laws, including the open container and excessive noise ordinances. After brief words from a representative of the State Police and the Liquor Control Board, Knorr opened the floor to any student questions. The first question came from Scott Kenyon, a member of the class of 2012, asking why the town felt the changes to the ordinance were necessary, given Mayor Knorr's comments of the past few Block Parties being "successful."
"The existing laws don't address some of the problems we have been having, such as public urination or trash, Knorr replied. "That's some of the things in the ordinance address."
Another student asked how the police intended to enforce the limit of 150 people. Chief Sokolowski stated that the officers on duty will not count heads, but if it is apparent there are too many people in one area, the officers will seek the permit holders and get the area cleared.
Ashley Hackett, a member of the class of 2011, asked why the town didn't seek the input of Greek Life, a question repeated several times, when historically the largest gathering spots are at Greek houses. Knorr's answer was rather vague, simply saying that they are seeking to form a task force of about ten people to discuss the issues surrounding Block Party before the event, and afterwards, how everything went and any issues that may have arisen.
Joe Wright, a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, spoke at length about the town not having students involved in the ordinance's drafting, and yet having the ordinance specifically target the students and the student organizations. Knorr stated that the council advertised the meeting where the draft took place for a month, giving students an ample amount of time to make it. He did, however, take responsibility for not having enough seating in the council chambers, stating that he had given permission for a ninth grade class to attend for extra credit.
"In the circumstances, I did the best I could to allow everyone to be heard, but it still doesn't excuse the fact I should have held the meeting in the fire hall." Knorr went on to joke that there is a "Screw Dan Knorr" group on Facebook, and anyone who faults him for it could join. He also added that he was upset no one invited him to the group.
One student asked if the panel thought it was a little drastic to raise the prices of the permits. Knorr shrugged and said, "If you're going to throw a major party, it's going to cost some money."
According to an estimate by Greek Life representatives, the cost of throwing their part of the annual drinking bash should be considered a lot more than "some money." Estimating $865 per portable toilet, $1500 for protective fencing, $500 for dumpsters, $25 dollars for each permit, $100 for security t-shirts and a $500 refundable deposit for the permits, the students estimated it would costs around $4,000 for the members of Greek Life to throw the large gathering on East Street, as has been done in past years.
Chief Sokolowski stated that the fencing was not required by the ordinance, although it was encouraged. It also stated that a $500 charge by the landlord of the properties was something that the town had no power over, and that it was something the students should discuss with that landlord. The students were not discouraged, and brought up the fact that they had to come up with this money with less than two weeks until the festivities were to begin. The panel seemed to support Knorr's comment that parties cost money, and that students should be prepared. After several more minutes of repeated comments on the costs and the lack of student involvement in the drafting of the ordinance, the forum concluded, leaving some students still wondering how Block Party will end up.
In a private interview, Joe Wright discussed his feelings on the new state of Block Party.
"I feel that the ordinance has increased the safety concerns we all [have] for Block Party, " said Wright. "No one is going to be able to afford the new permits, so there will be dozens of smaller parties. I feel that this will increase the problem over a wider area."
Wright went on to say that his fraternity would simply pass out 149 wristbands, one less than needed for the new ordinance to take affect, to their brothers, their alumni and the friends of the fraternity.
"We will have these wristbands to be able to easily recognize those who were are responsible for. We will do our best to encourage others to not use glass bottles and to clean up their trash, but with the new ordinance in place, I predict that the anger and frustration felt by the students could lead to the same nightmare scenario that Dan Knorr is attempting to avoid."
In police records obtained by The Voice, Wright was recently collared for breaking the town and state laws regarding intoxicating beverages. According to a citation given on March 21, Wright "did chance a physically offensive situation by drinking underage and attempting to flee when confronted for ID. Defendant did resist." He was also cited that night for breaking the towns open container law, as he was carrying a banned open bottle of Bud Light on Lightstreet Road. The report also lists his birth date as August 24, 1989, making Wright four months and one week too young to drink at the Block Party festivities on April 17.
Some students have begun discussions with the American Civil Liberties Union, to see if there is legal merit for a case against the Town of Bloomsburg. Valerie Burch, a lawyer for the ACLU, met with several students after the forum to discuss this possibility.
"The ordinance does discriminate against students, but it's not necessarily unconstitutional for that reason," Burch said. "Under the case law that exists right now, students are not a ‘suspect class' in the way that, for example, racial minorities are. This means that, when the government chooses to enact a law that disfavors students, it's not scrutinized as closely as a law that disfavors a ‘suspect class.' Essentially, a government only needs to have a ‘rational' reason for a law that disfavors students."
In the March 25 issue of The Voice, Mayor Knorr was quoted as saying "We have video evidence and copies of citations that document the issues surrounding Block Party. We do not have the same evidence for non-student groups."
Burch did say that the version of the ordinance on the books was unconstitutional, but only because it does not stipulate exceptions for First Amendment protected reasons.
"If a Bloomsburg University student, or group of students, genuinely wants to hold a ‘First Amendment-protected event,' such as a rally for a political cause or a wedding, and, due to the number of expected attendees and offering of alcohol, would be required to first obtain a permit, that student or group of students would be able to successfully challenge the ordinance by bringing a civil rights lawsuit in federal court."
"Please note," she continued, "It would be dishonest for students to bring a lawsuit on First Amendment grounds if they really weren't interested in exercising a First Amendment right, but rather, were only interested in partying."
With a little over two weeks left until Block Party, the ordinance and the reactions to it are sure to be a hot topic of conversation. The town police have vowed to enforce the ordinance, but it remains to be seen how many permits are issued for April 17.. Burch, along with university and law enforcement officials, all caution the partiers to obey the law.
"In spite of what the Beastie Boys say," she stated. "There is no right to party."
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