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Andrea
Harry

Andrea

          Third year language and culture major Andrea is firmly against the noise ordinance. What are your thoughts about how the noise ordinance is supposed to help with crime? "...I don't agree with that reasoning because yes it'd be quieter, but it's not gonna stop people from drinking and doing whatever they're doing.

           How do you think increasing police presence will affect Isla Vista? She comments, "Trying to enforce it [noise ordinance] would create conflict between students and the police department."

"I feel like the past few years they have been trying to break down those barriers like Halloween and Deltopia. I don't think it's realistic to have an ordinance at like 10PM."

Harry

          Harry, a third year econ major, had strong feelings about the new noise ordinance. What's your initial reaction to the noise ordinance? "Um, I'll say I'm against it because I don't see a point. I mean I understand the intention, but it'll just end up with more policing in I.V." Harry goes out to I.V. parties maybe 2-3 times a month. "I feel that people would start parties earlier and end earlier...I could see that for I.V. as a whole, it [the noise ordinance] would be detrimental to the party culture." 

           So, the new ordinance is actually meant to reduce crimes that happen late at night, not get rid of parties. Harry understood the effort, but he believes that crimes happen regardless of the time of night. "Obviously the most practical solution is to not allow parties, but you can't enforce that."

"...I won't be here after 2 years, so I won't be impacted by [the noise ordinance] as much. I mean it's a real shame... that many people possess this mentally where they're only here for 4-5 years and they don't really care about the results of their actions."

Kaila
Willie
"The Isla Vista community suffered through yet another night of major disturbances in the course of which there was again serious injury to persons and property. The disruptions occurred in defiance of both a curfew imposed by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and state of extreme emergency declared by the Governor."
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Chancellor Vernon I. Cheadle

Halloween 2010 Photo by KCLU Archive

Willie

          Willie is a third year studying environmental science. He works with the admissions office as a diversity intern and Gaucho Tour Guide Association.

           Do you go out to parties often? 

"I would say once a month... or twice, I go out to parties. Though he rarely goes to ragers, he believes the new ordinance isn't a good solution. "If a party ends earlier, drunk people from out of town would still just linger around." Willie raises a good point with how the new ordinance would even be enforced.

"At first I was against it because I was like.. college students live here and it's Isla Vista. It has a party scene culture. An earlier noise ordinance would potentially create tension between students and police."

Rager: Massive booze party. Usually associated with college students.

            All of the people I spoke with said some similar things. From the interviews, I got the impression that an earlier noise ordinance won't necessarily prevent crimes. Instead, we'll be faced with heavier policing in Isla Vista along with many unhappy residents. This would undo the barriers that students and law enforcement strove to overcome. 

           Isla Vista has a long history of tension with law enforcement. In February, 1970, riots surged through Isla Vista and a Bank of America was set ablaze. The combination of an arrest and disagreements with the Sheriff’s Department on drug policies led to a hectic year. The 6PM curfew didn’t help with the situation, I think. More recently, a violent riot broke out during Deltopia 2014. 6 officers were injured and 18 people were arrested.

           According to SB Sheriff’s website, 25% of all major crimes in SB county occur in Isla Vista, but I.V. makes up only about 7% of the county. Despite this crazy statistic, law enforcement has been reducing their presence in I.V. over the past few years. Gone are the mounted police, but the fences (which seems like overkill) still remain for Halloween and Deltopia. I do agree though.. that police presence is necessary, especially in a town like Isla Vista.

NEW HOURS:

SUN - SUN 7AM to 10PM

           Isla Vista's current noise ordinance is Sunday to Thursday, 7AM - 10PM and Friday and Saturday, 7AM - 12AM. I.V. residents were understandably upset when I.V. Foot Patrol suggested a new noise ordinance at a community meeting this past summer. Friday and Saturday hours could be reduced to 10PM. Many were also annoyed at the fact that the meeting was held when I.V. was basically uninhabited for the summer. The meeting to discuss the new noise ordinance was pushed back to a future date. 

          The new noise ordinance has yet to be put into effect, but clearly it's created a controversy. Though the ordinance is meant to combat the crimes that occur in I.V. after hours, many students feel like it's an attack on their 'right' to party. These are their stories. 

I thought Kaila's responses were surprising. Many students don't agree with more policing in Isla Vista. Her critique of Commander Moore's reasoning was eye-opening. Late noise ordinances don't cause crimes, drunk people cause crimes. And there will always be drunks in a college town.

A typical prelude to weekend nights in Isla Vista, featuring everything from Costco's Kirkland vodka to Cîroc. I.V. residents are in for a wild night.

"Dude.. if parties have to end at like 10PM, does that mean we have to start pregaming at like 7PM?"

                           Some student in I.V. (probably)

Change

         Each interviewee brought up great points. It’s true, there will always be drunk people doing stupid shit at 1AM on a Friday night. It's a perk of living in Isla Vista, depending on your views. When I first heard about the new ordinance, I thought it made sense. End parties earlier, less crime. Now, I think there’s an underlying cause, deeper than late night festivities, attributed to this small town’s assaults and burglaries.

          A more strict noise ordinance isn't enough. We, as a community, have to come together to single out the people plaguing our town with crime. It seems kinda superfluous, since most of us are here for only 4-5 years. But while you’re out at a party on a Friday night, gulping down your ninth shot, remember that our community also houses families and faculty.

          Let's be real here. Students living in I.V. are against the new ordinance because it would taint I.V.'s party reputation. It’s an identity that many share, proudly or shamefully, and these four years are especially important to discovering who you are as an individual. This whole ordeal is momentous to the future of I.V. because, if passed, the ordinance will strip us of our right to express ourselves.

Kaila

         A third year biology major and sister of Sigma Omega Nu, a Latina interest sorority, Kaila is initially against the new noise ordinance. Kaila explains "I think the noise ordinance now is fine because most people don't party until the weekends. I probably go out like 6 times a month max. Haha." So how do you think the ordinance will affect Isla Vista as a whole? "Um, I think it will probably reduce the amount of parties, but ultimately it's impossible to stop all parties."

           According to Kelly Moore, Commander of Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, the whole point of the new ordinance is to reduce the amount of crime that occurs after hours. "This isn't meant to increase or decrease binge drinking," Moore explains.

"I feel like a lot of crimes happen because people are intoxicated," Kaila responds. "But with the noise ordinance, the parties would end sooner and people would just go home I guess." 

          She doesn't mind more police presence despite the long fight to ease tension between students and law enforcement. "As long as you don't do anything stupid, you'll be fine."

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