5/26/99

Contact: Mike Sostarich, (740) 593-2561

ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio University will continue to restrict visitors to campus residence halls and parking on campus next Halloween weekend, following a successful campaign in 1998 to reduce vandalism and provide a safer environment, said Mike Sostarich, interim vice president for student affairs.

Sostarich met recently with representatives of the Student Senate's Committee on Halloween and the offices of Vice President for Administration, Campus Safety, Residence Life, Dean of Students and Environmental Health and Safety.

Students living in residence halls will be allowed to have one pre-registered guest for the weekend of Oct. 29. Wristbands or a similar means of identification will again be used for guests in residence halls. Wristbands will also be available to hall residents for easy access to buildings and for identification purposes.

Parking on campus will be limited to those students who have parking tags.

"We very much appreciate the opportunity to review the recommendations of the Student Senate's Committee on Halloween and believe that the consideration of student concerns balanced with the university's commitment to maintain a safe environment for all students has produced a reasonable and effective approach to the event," says Sostarich. "We continue to believe that our greatest challenge comes in coping with the tremendous influx of out-of-town guests and last year's effort indicates we are succeeding in reducing vandalism while providing a positive atmosphere."