In an apparent effort aimed at off-campus students and those not taking the “Veishea Pledge,” the Ames City Council is considering new legislation which, if approved, will give police more power to break up off-campus parties, particularly those with minors and alcohol present.

The new ordinances are the idea of the city’s Veishea task force, an ad-hoc group made up of city officials, representatives from Iowa State and Ames business owners and citizens. The task force was formed after ISU President Martin Jischke decided to leave the future of Veishea up to the students.

At tonight’s meeting, the Ames City Council will vote on two ordinances amending the municipal code of the city.

The first would add a new section specifically pertaining to “the definition and regulation of nuisance parties.” If passed, the ordinance will provide a stiff penalty to anyone violating the provisions of the new section.

According to the proposed ordinances, Ames Police would have the authority to shut down parties if they witness a party with underage drinking, urination or defecation in a public place, the damage or destruction of property and/or fighting or any other violation.

The specific violations are defined in the ordinance’s first subsection, which uses approximately 170 words to clarify exactly how a “nuisance party” will be defined.

In subsection two, the ordinance places responsibility on the residents of the property where a so-called “nuisance party” is taking place.

If the host of the party doesn’t appear to be making any effort to control the atmosphere, he or she can be found in violation of the new ordinance and the party would be shut down. If the host has violated the ordinance, there is a penalty of $100 for the first offense and a penalty of $200 for each repeat offense.

However, the penalties do not stop there. In addition to the other possible penalties, a violation of the ordinance can also be classified as a misdemeanor with a maximum punishment of a $100 fine and 30 days in jail.

Such a fine could put quite a damper on the calendars and pocketbooks of already financially strapped students. But many ISU officials think the goal of changing the behavior of people, particularly the younger generation, will be accomplished in the long run.

Warren Madden, vice president for business and finance and member of the task force, said he believes the success of the ordinances will be proved not by the number of arrests they bring in, but by something much more important — a change in people’s behavior.

“The goal of the ordinances is to potentially prevent the events of the past, and the way to do that is to change the attitudes of people in certain areas. The long-range goal is to change behavior of young people, not punish them,” Madden said.

The second ordinance appears to pick up where the first left off. According to the ordinance, it defines “the duties of persons in control of the site of a social gathering to prevent the consumption of alcoholic beverages by underage persons.”

Subsection one of the second ordinance states any person or persons who own or occupy a residence where a social gathering is taking place shall take “reasonable measures” to make sure no one underage is drinking alcohol.

According to the ordinance, these reasonable measures can even include calling police to aid in dispersing a party.

ISU Vice President for Student Affairs Thomas Hill, another member of the task force, said he believes the new ordinances will assist people in keeping unwanted guests out of their party.

“The ordinance gives someone the opportunity to tell someone, ‘Hey, you are breaking the law’ and help the host of a party keep control of their surroundings,” Hill said.

The ordinance also states if anyone under 21 years of age is arrested for possession or consumption of alcohol received at a party, the person responsible for the party can be found in violation.

If this happens, the person can be penalized $100 for the first offense and $200 for each repeat offense. And just as in the case of a nuisance party, the guilty party may have to pay a fine of up to $100 dollars and spend up to 30 days in jail.

These new ordinances are modeled after similar ones imposed in East Lansing, Mich., the home of Michigan State University.

But, in a story published in the Ames Tribune on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1997, City Attorney John Klaus said the Ames ordinances would be stronger.

Klaus said this is because they include violations which might occur in the yard of a house, as well as inside the house and in the public area surrounding the house.

Hill said he believes the ordinances have a dual purpose and will serve as more than just a new way to financially punish someone for breaking the law.

“The ordinances will carry sanctions with them, obviously, but they provide us the opportunity to educate people ahead of time,” Hill said. “The sanctions can be levied on those that choose to ignore them, but I feel these ordinances put us in the position to do both — educate and punish.”

At first glance, it appears the new ordinances are directed at students in particular, but Madden said if they are adopted, the ordinances will pertain to all groups in Ames.

“These new laws will affect the community at large; you don’t have to be a student,” Madden said. “The problems being addressed are community problems.”

But Madden did acknowledge that most of the problems during past Veishea celebrations have been due to young people and their irresponsibility.

“If you look at the numbers of arrests over the past years, young people have been prominent, whether they be students or not,” he said.