TommieMedia

St. Thomas students and community members stood on the corner of Grand and Cleveland avenues in the rain Tuesday afternoon, waving signs and banners in an attempt to encourage the rush-hour traffic to boycott Super America.

The protesters were upset about Super America’s attempts to discourage the public from supporting the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act of 2009. The act is currently being reviewed in national governmental committees and if it passes, businesses, including oil companies, would have to meet lower carbon-emission standards or pay a fine.

The goal of the campaign is to raise $500 million by fall 2012. In addition to the new athletic facility and recreation center, the capital campaign was started in fall 2007 to create more student scholarships and a list of other projects.

The St. Paul City Council is considering passing a social host ordinance that would make it a crime to host or allow a party where underage drinking occurs.

But this ordinance has a twist. If it passes, all adults, including landlords, who knowingly allow underage drinking parties, would be guilty of a misdemeanor and could face up to $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail.

John Hershey, neighborhood liaison for St. Thomas, said he has received about 40 separate complaints from neighbors this semester regarding student behavior.

“I’ve received a lot more really bitter complaints from people about roving bands of students,” Hershey said. “Not just that they’re in the neighborhood but that they’re being disrespectful … who knows what’s true and what’s not, but I don’t have reason to disbelieve them.”

Additional seasonal flu-shot clinics on campus have been postponed by the Student Health Service due to delays in shipments from vaccine manufacturers.