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°µÍř˝űÇř administrators and student government leaders today advised CU students and the general public not to attend the “4/20” marijuana smoke-out on the Boulder campus, painting a picture of heavy traffic, greatly limited parking, and strong and active enforcement of all state and local laws and CU regulations.
“Leaders in the CU Student Government (CUSG) have joined the administration in taking new steps this year to end 4/20 on the CU-Boulder campus,” said CU-Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano. “This imposition on the campus significantly disrupts the university’s operations – including teaching, learning and research. It threatens the health and safety of our employees, imposes logistical challenges and expenses, and unfairly taints the reputation of CU-Boulder and the dedicated faculty, staff, students and alumni who are a part of this great institution. It needs to end.”
CU-Boulder officials communicated to students, faculty and staff via email today these points and others, and outlined a series of strong measures to curtail the gathering. The measures include:
• Ticketing of those smoking marijuana in public, which can result in a $100 fine, revocation of a person’s medical marijuana registry card upon conviction, and sanctions against students who receive tickets by CU’s Office of Student Conduct;
• A large presence of police officers from CU-Boulder and regional agencies. The Colorado State Patrol will conduct enhanced patrols on U.S. 36, Colo. 93, the Diagonal Highway and other highways throughout the day, looking for drivers under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. The Colorado Department of Revenue’s Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division will have a team of officers deployed on campus and throughout Boulder to monitor medical marijuana centers and ensure compliance with licensing regulations.
• The strictest parking enforcement on and off campus; CU permits will be honored, but visitors can expect few or no available spaces either on campus or in neighborhoods adjacent to campus;
• A reminder issued to students: The federal Clery Act requires that the university maintain a publicly accessible crime log. Those ticketed or arrested for violating CU rules and state or local laws will have their names posted on the CU-Boulder police website’s daily crime log, which could affect their employment futures;
• An advisory to faculty not to cancel or curtail classes on 4/20, but to engage in all normal academic business as usual and to advise students of the substantial disruption the gathering brings to CU-Boulder’s academic mission and the conduct of normal business in the heart of campus;
• An advisory to the general public to avoid the CU-Boulder campus on 4/20, citing the logistics and difficulties presented by the gathering, including expected traffic jams along Broadway and near all entrances to campus; and
• Strong enforcement of the existing ban on vending of any merchandise, food or medical marijuana on the campus.
In November, CUSG leaders passed a resolution calling for an end to the gathering on the CU-Boulder campus following an open forum in which students expressed support and opposition for 4/20 – with students against the measure holding a strong majority. On March 1, leaders of the Boulder Faculty Assembly also voted to support official efforts to end 4/20 on the campus.
“4/20 damages the reputation of the university and of every student enrolled here,” said CUSG Vice President for External Affairs Brooks Kanski. “Do any search online of CU-Boulder and what will invariably pop up is an image or video of 4/20. Questions about 4/20 plague CU graduates in job interviews. It’s time for all of this to end.”
CUSG has also announced the hosting of a concert in the Coors Events Center for CU-Boulder students only – co-sponsored by CUSG and CU-Boulder’s Program Council – featuring singer-songwriter and hip-hop legend Wyclef Jean. Doors open at 2 p.m. and close at 4 p.m. The concert is expected to last until 6 p.m.Ěý
“We are asking students to support us in the effort to protect the reputation of our institution – and do it by attending a great free concert,” said Carly Robinson, CUSG vice president for internal affairs.
Campus leaders emphasize that they will enforce laws and campus rules fairly, reasonably and peacefully.
“We are not looking for violent confrontation with anyone at any time,” said CU-Boulder Police Chief and Executive Director of Public Safety Joe Roy. “We will be courteous in working with students and the public, but clear in enforcing the law.”Ěý
Contact:
Bronson Hilliard, CU-Boulder spokesperson, 303-735-6183
Ryan Huff, CU-Boulder Police spokesperson, 303-492-7581
Brooks Kanski, CUSG executive, 303-492-7473