Iowa Central students, leaders oppose bar plan
FD council tables vote until DecemberBy BILL SHEA, Messenger staff writer
Article Photos
A bid to keep underage people out of Fort Dodge bars late at night has been put on hold because of opposition from Iowa Central Community College.
The school's Student Senate and its administrators joined forces against the plan, claiming it would ''affect the college atmosphere'' and perhaps cause fewer students to enroll.
Their complaints prompted the City Council to postpone any action on the concept until Dec. 8.
''College students are very, very important to us,'' Councilman Dan Payne said after Monday night's council meeting. ''We have a big college base. We've got to be cognizant of their impressions of the community.''
Councilman Don Wilson said there's ''absolutely nothing'' for young people to do in town.
''I think we just want to take some time and visit with the students,'' he said. ''I feel they have some great concerns that we need to address.''
The proposal that upset the college community would prohibit people under age 21 from being in a business that has a liquor license after 10 p.m. unless they're with their parents or guardians.
That 10 p.m. deadline would not apply to businesses that could prove that more than half of their revenue comes from sales of food or items other than alcohol.
The measure is intended to help curtail underaged drinking. Council members gave it preliminary approval on Oct. 13. It has to be approved twice more to become law.
That process hit a delay Monday night after six people, all from Iowa Central, spoke against it.
Logan Villhauer, representing the Student Senate, read a resolution opposing the plan. He said the student governing body approved it unanimously on Oct. 14.
''Members of the Student Senate are concerned that by banning college students and other young adults from entering nightclubs after 10 p.m., the City of Fort Dodge will be adversely affecting the college atmosphere and would likely impact student enrollment negatively,'' he said. ''In addition, the city would potentially discourage young adults from living and working in Fort Dodge. The Student Senate views this City Council proposal as a de facto 10 p.m. curfew for college students and other young adults.''
Dave Drissell, a social science professor and adviser to the student government, told the council that the college's administration ''is definitely behind the Student Senate in opposing this resolution.''
College student Robert Carman described the proposal as an ''unfair curfew.''
''This will not curb underage drinking,'' he said. ''They'll just go to house parties.''
Five supporters of the proposal also had their say Monday.
''We're asking today that the City Council vote yes to ban minors from bars after 10 o'clock,'' said Liddy Hora, coordinator of the Webster County Drug-Free Alliance. ''Please don't miss this opportunity to reduce underage drinking in our community.''
Theresa Newman, director of the Healthy Living Department at Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge, told the council that prohibiting those under age 21 from being in bars is a ''powerful and well-documented approach'' to combating underaged drinking.
Megan Averill, a St. Edmond High School student and a member of Youth In Action, said statistics have shown that 53 percent of underaged college students who acknowledge drinking said they did that in off-campus bars.
After hearing both sides make their case, Councilman Richard Inman, a semi-retired Iowa Central instructor, moved that the proposal be tabled until Dec. 8. That measure was approved unanimously, with Councilman Matt Bemrich absent.
Payne said that City Manager David Fierke and the Police Department will work on revising the proposal.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net
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Steven
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10-29-08 12:26 PM
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and are upset that municipal authorities are attempting to usurp their rights. Why should young adults - who have reached the age of majority at 18 - be denied the right of assembly in such establishments? As long as they do not consume alcohol, they should be treated like any other adults Rights? We have a right to go to bars? Where does it say that in the constitution? So 12 year olds have the right to go to the Top Hat? Please The right of assembly? I believe it says lawful assembly, that would not include a right to assemble in your bedroom while you are trying to sleep. Why do you think 18 year olds should be able to go somewhere where the main income is from something they can't purchase. If bar owners felt there was money to be made off these young adults don't you think one of the many non alcohol dance nights would of went over at some point in the last 20 years? Of course no bar owner is going to close down his bar to alcohol sales and try to make money without it.
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redwood973
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10-29-08 3:03 AM
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Okay, hold on a second. So Iowa Central has nothing to offer it's student body except the local bars? The students at Iowa Central only enrolled because of it's reputation as a party school and not the quality of education they will receive? Sounds to me like those that would choose not to enroll if not allowed in bars are the types of people this community could do without.
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Random
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10-29-08 2:34 AM
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Some of you folks really don't understand the situation here. Currently, Fort Dodge law allows young adults (18-20) to enter any establishment with a liquor license. However, bars are free to set their minimum age for entry at 21. There are currently only a few nightclubs in Fort Dodge that allow 18-20 year olds to enter. One club in particular has a dance floor and several pool tables, which attracts many young adults. Law enforcement officials have been pushing the City Council to change the law and not allow anyone under 21 to enter such establishments after 10 p.m. Many college students go out to dance and play pool, especially on Wednesday nights, and are upset that municipal authorities are attempting to usurp their rights. Why should young adults - who have reached the age of majority at 18 - be denied the right of assembly in such establishments? As long as they do not consume alcohol, they should be treated like any other adults.
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Steven
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10-28-08 10:20 PM
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They are not trying to change the law to allow 18, 19 and 20 year olds to drink. This law is to not allow them in places where the main income is derived from something those people are not allowed to do. I am not disputing the legal drinking age here. If the legal drinking age were 18 I would not want 17 year olds in the bar. If the legal age was 30 then 29 year olds should not be allowed in the bar.
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Aaronzuriel
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10-28-08 9:25 PM
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I still don't get it. You can vote. You can sign a contract or sign up for years of debt with a credit card. You can get married. You can go to war and die. You can't drink a beer in Fort Dodge, let alone patronize and establishment that serves beer?
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prettymom
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10-28-08 3:58 PM
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I agree with you Steven.......who wants to party with kids! 21 is the legal drinking age in Iowa, those under 21 have no business being in a bar.
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Steven
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10-28-08 1:16 PM
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What bar owners want to allow 18-21 year olds in their bar? Do you really think they are making alot of money off soda? If I had a good bar I wouldn't want people that can't buy alcohol. The only good the underage drinkers would provide, would that it could make my bar look busy, therefore others would want to go there. Ask any bar owner who he would prefer fill his bar and without a doubt they would say patrons that can consume alcohol. The other point is if your a young adult, say 25-35, do you want to party with 18 year olds?
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exdodger
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10-28-08 1:11 PM
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1st. You don't fine the bar, you fine the person that sold the beer. regardless most owners are not there 24/7 and if the people working know that they will be hit with a large fine the problem is solved. 2nd there are too many bars in FD anyhow.That is the reason they are all sub par since it is so easy to get into the bar business in FD.
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Dejavue
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10-28-08 9:06 AM
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Why call an 18-20 year old an adult if you are not going to treat them as one? I still see dust and tumbleweeds as the future of Fort Dodge.
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BornInFD
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10-28-08 7:45 AM
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After I left FD to go to college, there were bars there that had different access points. They were both at the front door and it split into a Y. If you were 21 and had ID, you went left. If you were under that, you went right. They both had access to the dancefloor and the underage kids had pool tables and a bar that served only non-alcoholic drinks and soda. The 21 and over crowd was towards the back of the establishments, you were given a bracelet that was very brightly colored and you were often asked to show ID again if the bouncers felt it looked tampered with. You see, people try to stretch them out and slip it on the wrist of someone underage. The access to the dance floor was patrolled by that bouncer to help stave off any issues. No alcohol was allowed on the dance floor. The bar made money off of both groups, everyone was happy and those underage didn't feel slighted. Those under 21 having full access to the entire bar is not necessary. Modify your layout and add some staff
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MovedfromDodge
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10-28-08 7:13 AM
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What because they get banned from a bar, college students will suffer? What bars are we talking about here? What bars in Fort Dodge really even come close to a college bar? So the student council believes this will cause young people not to work or live in Fort Dodge. Well thank god they solved the problem that we for years couldn't figure out. Leave the bars open all night and let everyone in, by god the population of Fort Dodge is going to sky rocketed. The Student Council is not a government agency I voted in, they have no say in county or city decisions. So in the end is the city more worried about losing money or keeping underage kids out of a bar? Just stamp their hands with a no if they are under 21, fine the bar big time if they are drinking in the bar.
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HUEVOSRANCHEROS
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10-28-08 2:56 AM
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¡I do feel confident that those alternative entertainment options will not crop up as fast or perhaps not at all when the organizers know they have to compete with the bazillion bars in Fort Dodge that are all letting minors in their doors! Thus the cycle continues of nothing to do in Fort Dodge. It's almost like the city council is giving up and admitting that the dirty bars and taverns that dot the area are the best it can do and that is pretty sad.
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HUEVOSRANCHEROS
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10-28-08 2:50 AM
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¡No you don't allow them in bars if they're under 21! Would I have liked to go into the bars when I was stuck in FD all summer when I was 19?-Yes! Did I go?-No! Did I live?-Yes. It's an amazing pattern that everywhere underage college students are asked if they would like to be able to enter bars the answer is always "yes." Duh! Fort Dodge doesn't even have nightclubs and the "live music" is always some lame cover band doing classic rock songs. My point is that these kids-er adults-er kids aren't even missing out on that much by going into these bars. *****it up and join the tough reality we all had to struggle through at that age. I honestly think this could be a good thing with the ever increasing number of students out at ICCC these days there might actually be the numbers to successfully pull off bigger events like concerts featuring nationally touring smaller bands and the introduction of more alternative forms of entertainment.
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Random
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10-28-08 1:50 AM
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We are talking here about young adults - ages 18 to 20 years old. They simply want to be treated fairly and not be presumed guilty of violating the law. Many young adults enter nightclubs for reasons other than consuming alcohol - including dancing, seeing live bands perform, playing pool, and interacting with friends in a social atmosphere. Do we really want to restrict their assembly in such an ageist, discriminatory, fashion? At age 18, they can vote, serve in the military, marry, enter into a contract without parental consent, serve on a jury, etc. It is patently unfair to deny young adults the ability to enter a nightclub for legal entertainment purposes.
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farmerted
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10-28-08 1:36 AM
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IF THE UNDERAGE STUDENT ISN'T IN THE BAR IN THE FIRST PLACE THE BAR OWNER DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING FINED.DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO PUNISH A BAR OWNER WHEN KEEPING THE UNDERAGE DRINKERS OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE SEEMS THE LOGICAL THING TO DO. SEEMS PRETTY SIMPLE.
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Steven
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10-28-08 1:12 AM
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I say allow them in bars, however, make it mandatory for them to concent to a breath teast at anytime by local police. If they have alcohol in their system, the bar owner is fined. Start with a minimal fine of say $50 and double it for each sunsequent violation. Then take the fine money to pay for an officer to do checks regularly.
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