With citations for noise complaints costing up to $323, students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) can avoid hefty fines with the university’s new party registration program.
The goal program is to “give students an opportunity to take responsibility prior to any intervention,” Elinor Landess, UNC director of the Campus and Community Coalition to Reduce the Negative Impacts of High-Risk Drinking, said.
Students who register in the “Party, Police Free” program, implemented January 20, will receive a call from the police in the event of a noise complaint, instead of an officer going directly to the house. If partygoers can lower the party’s volume within 20 minutes, they will be allowed to continue their activities.
Registration privileges are revoked for a 90-day period after two consecutive calls from the police.
Director of UNC Fraternity and Sorority Life and Community Involvement Aaron Bachenheimer reported to The Herald Sun a 20% drop in noise complaints since 2015 as a result of UNC’s neighborhood advocacy programs. He anticipates the party registration program will reduce the number even further.
Bachenheimer also expects the program to teach partygoing students to be more responsible.
“[The program] empowers students to be able to address [noise] complaints and take some leadership and responsibility when hosting events in the community,” he told The Herald Sun.
UNC junior and Interfraternity Council President Carson Southard echoes this sentiment.
“The idea behind this entire system is to facilitate a community spirit that values responsible student entertainment and not reckless, out-of-control partying,” he said.
Southard hopes that fraternity and sorority houses will also be able to use the registration program in the future and believes the system “will definitely build trust between students and police, especially with officers trusting students to party responsibly.”
UNC junior Callie Riek is doubtful that the program will create any bond between students and the larger community, but believes the system will still work capably.
“I don’t know if it will necessarily connect communities and student partiers─I don’t think the community really wants to have a connection to college parties─but I think it will allow police to focus on safety rather than noise complaints,” she said.
Students can register their parties with a free form from the UNC Student Affairs website.
