In recent weeks, the Off-Campus Student Life Office informed the University community that students from a neighboring university were arrested for violating the District of Columbia noise ordinance. However, both University police and the Metropolitan Police Department have reported fewer student noise violations in the Georgetown area.
According to the November 8 edition of “Rocky’s Report,” a weekly newsletter released by Vice President for University Safety Rocco DelMonaco, there has been an overall decline in noise disturbance calls, a trend that has been corroborated by the Metro Police Department’s records.
The past two weekends saw just nine 911 calls for noise disturbances, only three of which pertained to homes owned by Georgetown students. Several other parties were broken up by Student Neighborhood Assistance Program patrols before police involvement was required.
“We think this is a sign that our resources are working pretty well,” DelMonaco wrote in the report.
In addition to the usual SNAP patrols, the University is increasing coordination with MPD in an effort to further reduce cases where severe consequences may be incurred. This fall, the Department of Public Safety worked with MPD to hire several extra officers to patrol the streets of West Georgetown and Burlieth at night. It has also held several orientation sessions for the new officers.
The noise law, instated last February, prohibits unreasonably loud noise between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. A violation could lead to a charge of disorderly conduct–a criminal offense in D.C.–and potential consequences that include up to 90 days in jail and/or a $500 fine.
“Our top priority is to help ensure our students are aware of the noise law, and to make sure they know that MPD is enforcing this law,” Stacy Kerr, University vice president of communications, wrote in an email. “MPD’s job is to enforce the law.”
Despite these recent developments, students themselves continue to differ in opinion over how much Georgetown will be affected by this heightened enforcement, if at all.
Some students feel that these developments reflect a changing Georgetown. Remy Wainfeld (COL ’12), who currently lives off campus, said he has noticed a definite evolution of the social scene at Georgetown throughout his time here.
“There has definitely been a change in the way parties and events are conducted now,” he said. “People are a lot more careful now.”
He attributed the change to University resources like DPS and SNAP that stop events from getting out of hand before Metro has to intervene.
Kate Thiemer (NHS ’13) has a straightforward prescription for students.
“When you see MPD, turn the music down; when you walk by them, quiet down,” said Thiemer. “Just use common sense.”
