Central Illinois Gazette
Herman to appeal to Champaign City Council Tuesday night
Posted by: Tom Kacich
Monday, February 25, 2008 1:16 PM
University of Illinois Chancellor Richard Herman said this morning that he will take the extraordinary step of appearing before the Champaign City Council Tuesday night to call for city action against the "Unofficial St. Patrick's Day" promotion scheduled this Friday and Saturday."I'd like to show up with 150 people, frankly," Herman said. "It would be great if some people from the medical community and some pastors showed up. I have some feelers out."
Herman indicated he's most displeased with local bar owner Scott Cochrane, the chief promoter of the event. Herman and the mayors of Champaign and Urbana have sent a letter to the parents of UI students, urging them to talk to their sons and daughters about the event.
Now, obviously, he wants to community to get involved as well.
"We're trying to build a place here that people want to come to and live in," he said. "But we're allowing this guy (Cochrane) to define who we are.
"There has to be some sort of consideration of the greater good here."
One suggestion, Herman said, is to charge bar owners -- or at least those promoting the event -- for the extra police required to enforce laws and ensure public safety.
"The people who are perpetrating this seem to be getting off scot-free, pardon the pun," Herman said. "This guy's just thumbing his nose at the community."
Herman also indicated some displeasure with Champaign Mayor Jerry Schweighart. "I read where Jerry said that if things get worse this year that he'll really crack down on the bar owners next year. Well next year is here."
Comments
I truly do not understand why the City of Champaign lets bar owners (one in particular) make up a promotion, reap huge profits from it, endanger the lives of hundreds of "children", and then offer to help pay for it by using taxpayer's money to schedule more police "enforcement", clean-up detail, etc. It's time this ridiculous "party" is called off...last time I checked, it's illegal for 19 and 20 year olds to drink alcohol so why does the City of Champaign continue to allow them to enter bars; that isn't the case in other college communities. I would LOVE to see a police officer standing at the front door of each and every bar this Friday--all day. Just standing there--I'll venture to guess that most of the underage drinkers will be deterred from even entering the place. I think much of this community keeps thinking this "holiday" will go away...but it's definitely scheduled again this year--bright and early this Friday morning.
I'm not looking forward to seeing the paper on Saturday morning for reports on the number of arrests, amount of property damage, how many people were "treated and released" from local hospitals, cost to taxpayers was only $XXXXXX, the number of accidents reported as a result, how many students were absent from classes, cost to the university, etc.
Has Mr. Cochrane offered to pick up the tab for this ridiculous party?...I didn't think so.
Posted by sueo on February 25, 2008 at 4:44 PM
So now businesses can't do business? Come on sueo. Did Mr. Cochrane set the Bar entry age? Students drink, get over it. We don't need more cops on campus today, we need less. We have a problem because we made it one. Get a grip with reality.
Posted by Kducey on February 29, 2008 at 7:07 AM
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