http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/27314
Let’s vote on the U-District
A U-District would be nice, if it’s democratic
Derrick Skaug
The Daily Evergreen
Published: 12/15/2008
Some residence halls are rowdier than others. Some RAs enforce quiet hours, others don’t. Some students prefer RAs who bust people for drinking, others feel it is nothing less than generational treachery. As someone who does not drink and prefers to go to bed around twelve, I value a few hours of peace and quiet every once in a while. That is why I can identify with the non-student residents of College Hill. Sometimes peace and quiet is hard to find in Pullman, especially if you live near students.
If my RA-monitored dorm building can drive me – a college student – half-insane, just imagine how the adults living on College Hill react to our infamous four-day weekends. Just as some dorm residents welcome responsible RAs from other floors coming over to do rounds and help clean house, most ordinary Pullman residents want to enjoy some peace and quiet too.
I can relate to the residents of College Hill who favor the passing of the proposed University District. If the plan is passed, it would mean increased police patrols that will bust rowdy, out-of-control parties and bring some semblance of living standards to College Hill.
The non-student residents of College Hill want some structure – if this means the WSU Police will have jurisdiction as well as Pullman Police, so be it. Not having trash, empty beer cans and broken glass all over the place is worth it. But many student residents and Pullman real estate agents are vehemently opposed to the proposal. President Elson S. Floyd’s forums, created to gauge public opinion toward the proposal, did not put any U-District criticisms to rest.
In the dorms, if you do not like your living situation you can and really should transfer out at the semester’s end. But outside of WSU’s authority, things aren’t so simple. If you are a homeowner and your neighbors are too loud or have too many crazy parties, you can’t just ask your landlord for a transfer form.
The forums were an example of direct democracy without any teeth – residents could voice their opinions but did not have a vote in the outcome. The only vote that mattered in these forum sessions was Floyd’s. As someone who has participated in direct democracy I can vouch that although uncommon, in some cases it is indeed the most appropriate course of action.This is one of those situations. I propose a referendum to decide the U-District question, where every resident of College Hill be given a vote. Floyd himself has said there are some areas of consensus and other areas of disagreement.
If a referendum was implemented, the majority would have its say and the deal would be signed and done – no complaining after the fact.
I hope the outcome would be in favor of the U-District, as it would lead to fewer staggering, vomiting and angry drunks on the street on any given night. But this issue affects all of College Hill, and all residents should be able to voice their opinion through the use of the great equalizer – the ballot box.
In a democratic society, when there is a problem solutions are proposed, debated and voted upon. The side with the largest amount of support wins, and the other side loses. This is how the U-District proposal should be approached. After all, this is America.
I think.
