Party ordinance

For Millie Strom's sake, please stop it.

In case you missed last Sunday's story about a proposed party ordinance, Strom is an 83-year-old woman who for years and years has put up with loud parties near her residence, which is close to the Southeast Missouri State University campus. The party-goers crank up the music, crack open the booze and party until the wee hours. She loses sleep. She ends up cleaning up the mess left in her driveway. One night she finally called the police. Later she found a hole in the side of her house where it appeared someone had a real ax to grind.

A group of concerned residents who live near the campus has had enough already. And good for them. They've been trying to get the city council to address these problems since 2009. Finally, the city seems to be responding to their concerns. Preliminary plans are in place to adopt an ordinance from Columbia, Mo., that would give local law enforcement more teeth to control wild parties. The Columbia law defines a "nuisance party" as a social gathering of 10 or more people on a residential property where any of a list of 11 things occurs, including fighting, littering, illegal sales or possession of alcohol, public urination, noise violations and indecent exposure. It would allow police to cite the party's hosts and would also make a citable offense for those at the party who don't disperse when ordered to do so by police.

It's a shame that all of this is happening. It's a shame that an 83-year-old woman fears her neighbors. It's a shame that a group of people in a nice neighborhood feel the need to ask the government for more protection. It's a shame the city has taken so long to respond. Most of all, it's a shame that people, regardless of age, can't respect their neighbors.

Millie Strom has a right to some peace. She has a right to protect her property and to prevent it from becoming a trash heap. Likewise, this group of concerned individuals has a right to petition its government. And the city has an obligation to meet these needs. The city appears poised to make a good move on these residents' behalf.

Soon, students may have the obligation to control their parties. But we would encourage partiers not to change their habits simply for the sake of not getting in trouble. Rather, do out of basic respect for your neighbors and the common community.