ASMSU representatives will vote this week on a recommendation for changes to East Lansing's party-noise ordinance.

Amendments were drafted by officials from MSU's undergraduate student government following a policy meeting last Thursday.

A bill to address the East Lansing City Council on Tuesday with changes to the eight-week-old policy will be presented during the Student Assembly meeting Thursday.

Student Assembly Vice Chairperson for External Affairs Kevin Glandon said he worked with the discussion from a committee meeting to create five recommendations to alter the ordinance.

Many of the amendments include combining indicators and adding clarifications to the language of the bill.

"The specific language of the bill will be available on Thursday and may still be subject to changes," Glandon said.

The policy defines party noise as having at least two party indicators, which include entrance fees, kegs, live entertainment, loud outdoor music or having more than one person per 20 square feet of habitable living space.

The ordinance mandates jail time and fines of up to $1,000 for the most severe party-noise offenders.

Eliminating jail time was the first recommendation to improve the ordinance, Glandon said.

Another proposal is to add more clarity to the ordinance's language by changing the phrase "habitable living space" to "square footage."

Glandon said the recommendations also would combine the five conditions needed to be fined under the ordinance into three conditions.

The amendment recommendations included combining the separate stipulations for being fined under the ordinance of amplified sound emitting from a building and a live band or disc jockey.

Glandon also combined having a common source of alcohol and charging for entrance or alcohol.

Under the new amendments, all three indicators would have to be present at a party to be fined for the ordinance, Glandon said.

Glandon said the new draft for amendments was met with approval, and he is confident the bill, pending further language changes, will pass.

"Our intent is to make sure the ordinance targets what was intended and to also make this a more rational ordinance by eliminating jail time," he said.

Deputy City Manager Jean Golden said she always has encouraged community members to suggest ways to strengthen the ordinance and she looks forward to hearing ASMSU's input.

"City council has expressed a willingness to listen to any recommendations from ASMSU as well as students and others regarding (the noise policy)," Golden said. "I am sure the amendments will be very well received."

Some MSU students believe the proposed amendments to the party-noise ordinance will carry more weight when presented to city council by MSU's student government.

"It is better that ASMSU takes this issue verses some college student who is whining about their party being shut down," kinesiology junior Marissa Vilums said while standing on the balcony of her off-campus apartment. "The city might be more susceptible to listen."