Student leaders are formulating plans to overturn the city's four-week-old policy on party noise that mandates steep fines and jail time for the most disruptive party hosts.

Economics junior Michael Kotick said he is joining about 15 students in coordinating a petition campaign that they hope will ultimately end the policy approved by the East Lansing City Council on Sept. 2.

The students need to secure about 3,700 certifiable signatures from registered East Lansing voters to force a citywide referendum - giving residents the final say on the fate of the ordinance.

"There needs to be a mutual respect between the city and students," Kotick, a former student government member, said. "This has thrown a fork in the road, but it isn't something that can't be worked out."

Responding to persistent complaints from permanent and student residents about disturbing noise emanating from weekend parties, the city council instituted the stiffened policy in time for the second weekend of the school year.

The policy created two new categories for noise violations, including a party-noise misdemeanor and a civil infraction. The misdemeanor calls for a $500 fine and three days in jail, while the civil infraction carries a $1,000 fine.

Leaders from ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, said they are also helping organize student groups who have contacted them about petitioning the policy.

City Attorney Dennis McGinty said residents who wish to repeal an ordinance must gain signatures from 15 percent of the city's registered voters.

If the signatures are certified within 30 days of the policy's adoption, the ordinance would be suspended until it is reconsidered.

In this case, McGinty said it is possible for the students to obtain enough signatures for a referendum, but it "isn't possible, practically speaking" to suspend the policy.

He explained that of those 30 days, the city clerk has 10 days to certify the signatures - meaning the count likely wouldn't be finalized by the Oct. 2 deadline.

Deputy City Manager Jean Golden said students might be "overreacting."

"I doubt whether there would be very much support for repeal of this ordinance among registered voters here," Golden said.

Regardless, Kotick said, "Students need to put a strong foot forward by registering, petitioning and voting."

Kotick said members of his coalition are planning to be at the International Center today, seeking signatures for the petition and registering students to vote in East Lansing.

Kevin Glandon, vice-chairperson for external affairs for ASMSU, said student groups who have inquired about challenging the city are planning to meet today to design the petition.

"ASMSU is continuing to go ahead with working on changes to the legislation and getting student input," Glandon said. "We are also helping any student group that wants to have a voice.

"We are trying to enable students to speak."

During the first three weekends of the policy, seven party hosts were cited with civil infraction and four received misdemeanors. Police, however, didn't issue any citations last weekend under the policy.

Those numbers show that the policy is working, Golden said.

"People are talking about this all over the city. It has put a stop to these large house parties. It is working, and that speaks for itself."

Student leaders participated in the spring in making recommendations for reducing noise in the city but complain that they were sidestepped in the final version, which called for jail time.

Some city officials have acknowledged that there was a short window for comment before the policy was adopted.

Kotick, an off-campus resident of East Lansing's Northern Tier, said the student petition "shows the city that we are part of the community, and we want to be involved in these activities."

But Golden contends that the ordinance only applies to a few students "who are having illegal parties where alcohol is being served, attracting a huge number of people with a charge for the alcohol and huge numbers of underage drinkers."

The ordinance defines party noise as a loud gathering that has at least two party indicators, such as kegs, live entertainment, outdoor music, entrance fees and more than one person per 20 square feet.

"If those parties went away, it would be a good thing for most students at MSU," she said. "I don't think most students want to be known for attending a party school where this is going on.

"They want their degree to be respected."