After at least 30 years of grumbling, Wharton professors will now get some peace and quiet.
On Tuesday, Oct. 19, the Student Activities Council will announce a new policy restricting when and where music may be played on Locust Walk.
This decision comes after Wharton professors doing research at Steinberg-Dietrich Hall -- located on the Walk between 37th and 38th streets -- complained that they were being distracted by the noise.
"We're pretty close to the Walk, and whenever there are events out there, people bring out boomboxes and players and they try to get attention. It's pretty constant. ... It just gets distracting," Finance professor Jeremy Siegel said.
"I definitely think there's got to be measures put into place," added Siegel, whose office faces Locust Walk on the second floor of Steinberg-Dietrich.
Siegel did not personally voice concerns to the administration, but his colleagues who did also suggested a compromise, according to Undergraduate Assembly Chairman and College senior Jason Levine. Professors suggested limitations, rather than demanding that music be banned from the Walk completely.
The Locust Walk Noise Policy will require that groups on the Walk between 36th and 38th streets only play music between noon and 1 p.m. -- the universal lunch hour at Wharton -- and during the 10-minute intervals between Wharton's 90-minute classes. East of 36th Street, no restrictions will be in place.
According to SAC Secretary and College junior Phil Gommels, a group's first offense against the Locust Walk Noise Policy will result in an official warning by the SAC executive board. A second or third offense will each respectively constitute a $25 or $50 fine on the printing and publications portion of the group's budget.
For any further offenses, the budget of the group in question will be frozen pending an official meeting of the group and the SAC executive board.
Wharton professors affected by the policy have agreed to contact SAC when they observe groups violating the rule.
According to Director of Student Life Fran Walker, concerned professors have contacted her office, the Vice Provost for University Life and the police.
"This is nothing new," Walker said. "This has been an ongoing problem. ... Over the past three to four years, it has gotten a lot worse."
Siegel agreed that in his 28 years on campus, the noise problem has become more prevalent.
According to Levine, Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum relayed the professors' complaints to the undergraduate community, and the problem was then passed on to SAC at a recent UA Steering meeting.
While the policy will technically only be applicable to SAC groups, Levine said that UA Steering has asked other umbrella organizations to encourage their groups to abide by this compromise, "so that the problem is solved without having to involve other administrators."
Levine added, "It's been an issue for a long time, and now, based on the faculty's recommendation and compromise, hopefully we'll have some progress on the request."
Siegel highlighted the importance of the compromise soon to be in place.
"I want to respect their rights, but they have to respect our rights, too."
