I enjoyed reading the people complaining about people riding in the back of trucks through town every year, which is COMPLETELY LEGAL in Ohio. Only stipulation is you can't sit on the side of the bed, and the tailgate must be up.

Now once you accept money from people it gets a little murkier since now it can be claimed that you're not a legal taxi service, but being in the back of a truck in general is completely fine

The link isn't working. Here's what Alan wrote:


To the Editor:

Another neighborhood fest season has come and gone, and scores of Ohio University students and their friends are lighter in the pockets because of the fines that they have paid for violating various local laws. Many permanent residents are equally lighter in the patience category because of the perceived irresponsible behavior and lack of respect for local laws and private property practiced by some OU students.

In less than a month, the vast majority of students will leave town for the summer, and the fest problem will fade into the background only to resurrect itself in the fall as the city makes plans for the annual Halloween block party. The cycle of fest and forget will have played out again for the umpteenth time. What is our community to do?

As evidenced by the numerous letters to the editor, Facebook posts, and calls to the various call-in radio shows, something needs to be done. Let me be perfectly clear on one thing. The blatant disrespect for democratically passed laws that are enforced in a legal and responsible manner is never an OK thing. As a candidate for Athens City Council, I believe that elected officials, community members and students have a civic responsibility to address this troubling and expensive issue today rather than after a tragic or fatal incident occurs during the next round of fests.

An appropriate first step would be formation of a combined task force of students including some of those arrested during the last round of fests; property owners including some of those on whose property a significant number of citations were issued; law-enforcement officials including some of those who actually issued the most recent citations; and city and university officials.

The task force's charge would be simple - to determine how we as a community got ourselves into this mess and what as a community we are willing to do to get ourselves out of it.

Four weeks from this Saturday, Ohio University will hold its annual commencement ceremonies and another school year will have passed. Now is the time to start the process of truly making this the number four best college town in America.

Alan Swank
Townsend Place
Athens

Not only Spring Fest which was on the intramural fields but also each of the residential greens had there own weekends. In 1981, South Green Weekend alone went through 100 kegs of beer. It was a monitored and regulated event - mainly by residence life. When the drinking age went to 21, OU got out of the fest/party/green weekend business and it reemerged off campus in an unregulated environment. Perhaps a music event in Peden could be tried. Everyone could walk there, beer sales could be controlled and if the stage was set up in the north endzone, the sound would be "killed" by the hill on the south side of 682 thus sparing the south side residents of noise complaints. If the wind happened to be blowing from the south or southeast that would further deaden the sound. I was serious when I wrote that letter and called for a task force to address the opportunity. Fests aren't going away but as long as the continue in their present form, we're just one straw from breaking the camels back and having a disaster or tragedy on our hands.

I also agree with Alan. I admire him for having the courage to address this issue. I believe he is correct that we are in danger of having a very serious incident or even a tragic death take place at one of these #Fests in the not too distant future if we are not very careful. The Task Force that Alan suggests is a good first step in the direction of trying to be proactive in dealing with this matter. Alan's courage in addressing issues which others would like to wish away or sweep under the rug is the one reason that this Republican and member of the GOP Central Committee has an Alan Swank for City Council sign in my yard. I've already received a "raised eyebrow" from our party chairman for this action, but I'm going to stand with Alan because he's not afraid to call 'em as he sees 'em. We need more of that around here, IMHO.

OhioStunter -- We all know Athens is easy pickens. Bars. Parties. All within a few blocks. Easy way to make money for Liquor Control. Or, to prove they need to exist. "Look at all the underage drinkers! We need more funding!"

The problem with an event in Peden or the Fairgrounds is men and women under age 21 will not be able to drink. They can drink at Numberfest or PalmerFest or etc. because their friends who are a few months or 1-2 years older than them will hand them a beer. That will always make it tough to replace those fests with something "official".

Well, the Athens News has endorsed our very own legendary BA poster, the one and only Swankester: http://www.athensnews.com/ohio/article-44899-vote-cochran...

I urge all BA Democrats who live in Athens to remember to vote on Tuesday and to vote for Swank. In fact, I'll go one step further and ask that you vote only for Swank in the at-large City Council race because that improves his chances of being one of the top three who will advance to the general election. If he makes it to the general election I fully plan to vote for him. We need his independent thinking and his integrity on City Council.

It's arguably more safe to keep the mob of people moving (somewhat) orderly than it is to try to manage them in one spot trying to control bus loading. It's not THAT long of a walk, and everyone is going to go the exact same way so it's a pretty controlled situation all things considered.

I was sad to see the results, Alan, but keep trying. Your name recognition goes up each time your name is on the ballot. The turnout yesterday was very poor even by off-year primary standards. I think having the university on fake semesters now, with that very early graduation time is going to mean these kind of turnouts will continue for May primaries.

Don't disagree OCF. However, if your boys in Columbus get their way, college students in Ohio will no longer be allowed to vote in their college town.

Guess I'm in the minority here.
Let me start out by saying that I pushed for the right for 18 year olds to vote when I was in high school and have voted in every general election since I turned 18.
I'm a registered independent so I can't vote in primaries.

Most students are in Athens for what,16 - 18 weeks a year,for 4-5 years.
Yes,I know people move all the time,but students have built in transiency.
To me,as a "part time" resdent you shouldn't be allowed to make decisions that can affect people for years after you've left Athens.
Yes vote,but vote in your home town.

That describes most voters, not just student voters. Also, since students bring an extraordinary amount of dollars to the community I think it is right that they be allowed to vote in that community. Finally, Republicans don't want students to be able to vote where they live and go to school because they would be unlikely to absantee vote where their parents live and most college students tend to vote democrat.

Was just wondering,what are you refering to when you say "voter suppression" ?