Point-counterpoint

There has been a major uproar in the last several weeks about the new city ordinances passed over the summer. Before I begin my piece about these new ordinances, I feel like I need to put forth this disclaimer: The following viewpoint does not reflect the viewpoint of my chapter, Sigma Nu as a national organization, nor SEMO Greeks as a whole. This viewpoint is merely the musing of me as an individual who happens to be the president of Sigma Nu here at Southeast.

To begin with, the "nuisance party" laws seem to coincide with Sigma Nu's national Risk Reduction Policy and our Fraternity Insurance Purchasing Group agreement. This is to say that these new laws seem to restate all of the things that our chapter must follow according to our national headquarters and our insurance policy. Because of these similarities, it should not shock any Greek on campus that these laws should be followed.

Secondly, these new ordinances passed do not seem to be an outrageous change from what was already in effect the past several years that I have been a student on this campus. Before these laws were passed, there was still a worry that the police must shut a party down due to excessive noise or public urination. In my opinion, this new ordinance is a way for the Cape Girardeau Police Department to have a streamlined way of helping prevent outrageous and nuisance parties from happening.

Finally, I feel that in the past several weeks the students of this campus have made a big deal over what is not a large change to this city. As long as we, as students and members of organizations, follow the guidelines of the city, our campus and our organizations as whole, we will have nothing to worry about this new policy. Having said that, I would urge all students on this campus to be extra careful when planning a party because we have now been put in the spotlight.