Responding to complaints about loud, late-night outdoor gabbing, summer school proctors in at least one dormitory have enacted stricter anti-noise rules for their students.

In mandatory meetings this week, Canaday proctors told their students that those chatting loudly in the courtyard after 11 p.m. will have their identification cards confiscated.

The amplifying acoustics of Canaday's courtyard made the new policy was necessary, according to Zoe Cummings '93, a proctor in Canaday D.

"The acoustics in the courtyard are such that at night, any shrieking or yelling...is magnified and annoying," Cummings said.

Glenn D. Mah '94, another proctor in Canaday, agreed. "Anything above a whisper is a problem," he said.

After receiving complaints about the continued noise, summer school administrators told proctors to meet with their students, proctors said. Summer school officials could not be reached for comment.

According to Canaday proctor Jillian Machi '94, students had not curbed their nighttime talks despite repeated warnings from proctors.

"We've been issuing warnings, but they've not been heeded," Machi said.

It's gotten much worse in the last couple of weeks."

Machi said she feels the warm summer weather is largely responsible for the problem.

Many students, wanting to take advantage of the balmy weather, head outside to lounge and talk. Meanwhile, the high temperatures also make the rooms uncomfortable hot. And early-to-bed students who choose to sleep with their windows open have been getting a blast of unwantednoise from the groups talking outside.

"[Students] have a right to keep their windowsopen," Machi said. "They shouldn't have to stiflein the heat just to keep the noise out."

College proctors who are living in Canaday overthe summer are among those most bothered by thesleep-preventing ruckus, Mah said.

"A lot of regular-year proctors have regularjobs, and they have to get up," he said.

Summer school students agreed that the noise inthe courtyard has been bothersome.

"It was a stupid architect who designed thebuilding," said student James Armstrong. "Peopledon't even talk that loud, but you can heareverything."

Mah said that proctors have suggestedalternative hang-outs for the talking groups.

"We've asked people not to gather in largegroups, and if they're going to talk, go somewhereelse, like the steps of Widener," he said.

The new rule has been working, according toproctor Mark W. Jacobstein '92, who said he hadbeen bothered by the noise.

"Since the rule went into effect, it has beennoticeably quieter," he said