ASMSU has been making its demands loud and clear about the revised noise ordinance, but MSU's undergraduate student government was quiet as a mouse when the controversial ordinance was in its initial stages of development.

Members of the organization have failed their constituents. Although they have tried to negotiate the terms of the ordinance with the East Lansing City Council during the summer, they obviously didn't vocalize their opinions loudly enough.

Now everybody can hear ASMSU trying to rectify this situation - just look at its letter to the editor - but it's too late. ASMSU's hand is caught in the cookie jar and it is trying desperately to get out.

Five party hosts have been cited under the ordinance and police continue to patrol the streets seeking for at least two of the five party indicators.

Party indicators include: a keg, live entertainment, amplified sound, more than one person for every 20 square feet or entrance fees.

Under the ordinance, party hosts face a $500 fine and three days in jail for a misdemeanor or $1,000 for a civil infraction.

East Lansing Mayor Mark Meadows writes in a letter to the editor that ASMSU should not be surprised the ordinance includes the stated terms because the recommendations had been submitted to the organization last year.

ASMSU had a year to convince the city council to modify the new ordinance or to keep the old one.

Instead, members of the organization only added a few words here and there to the meetings they attended.

Lynsey Little, ASMSU director of community affairs, writes that the city council fast-tracked the implementation of the ordinance but had the organization played a greater role in establishing the new rules, it would not have been fast-tracked.

It seems the organization just wasn't paying attention to what was going on.

The city council is considering modifying the ordinance but is still going to test the current one.

During the past year ASMSU did ask why a "life-altering event such as jail" should apply as punishment for a discretionary offense.

This is one question the city council should take into serious consideration.

In his letter, Meadows discusses the actions of three students recently penalized under the new ordinance. While their actions are not saintly, the penalty they face is harsher than the crime committed.

Murder, rape or robbery are definitely reasons for jail time, but making too much noise is not.

The increased fines are harsh enough to make potential party hosts wary of having a big bash on the weekend.

But taking away time from school, work or other productive activities is not just.

A strong student government is needed to represent the student population at MSU.

ASMSU should be prepared to serve its students to the fullest at all times instead of taking action as soon as something goes wrong.