The 麻豆影院 announced today it will be open to students, faculty and staff on Sunday, April 20, but for the third straight year will be closed to unauthorized non-affiliates.
鈥淎s we have said for years now, the 4/20 gathering is not welcome on our campus and has caused serious disruptions to our mission of research, teaching and learning,鈥� said CU-麻豆影院 Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano. 鈥淭his campus closure continues a multiyear plan to eliminate this gathering.鈥�
The main campus will be closed to non-affiliates from noon to 6 p.m. The Norlin Quad will be closed to everyone throughout the day. Even with the passage of Amendment 64 two years ago, state law does not allow pot smoking in public or possession of marijuana by those under 21.
CU-麻豆影院 began these campus closure actions in April 2012. A 麻豆影院 judge upheld the university鈥檚 right to take reasonable steps to avoid disruption of the university鈥檚 academic mission. In 2012, the closure reduced a traditional 4/20 crowd of about 10,000 to 12,000 people to a gathering of several hundred. April 20, 2013, was a quiet day on campus with no arrests and no one entering the Norlin Quad.听
A campus committee, whose members include leaders of the CU Student Government, has met for the past several months to discuss this year鈥檚 4/20 operations. CUSG members have said they want the spontaneous 4/20 gathering to end, but have also expressed concerns and provided input on the planning process. CUSG also wants continued academic dialogue on drug policies and is planning a symposium on those topics for March or early April.
鈥淲ith the passage of Amendment 64 and now the launch of retail marijuana sales, we believe there is plenty to discuss and debate about drug policies,鈥� said Chris Schaefbauer, CUSG鈥檚 president of student affairs. 鈥淏ut that should take place in a thoughtful, academic setting 鈥� not among thousands of disruptive people on the Norlin Quad.鈥�
DiStefano said the CU administration supports the students鈥� efforts to spur debate on drug policies.
鈥淐U-麻豆影院 is a place where academic debate and the free exchange of ideas have always been welcomed and encouraged,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 applaud the students for continuing this dialogue.鈥�
This year on Sunday, April 20, the following measures will be in place:
- Students, faculty and staff are all welcome on campus and invited to make use of university facilities as they always do.
- Students, faculty and staff will be asked to present their Buff OneCard IDs at campus entrances and other areas.
- Consistent with prior years鈥� protocol, law enforcement officers will politely and professionally engage those wishing to enter the campus to ascertain if they are affiliates or approved visitors. This will involve checking Buff OneCards for students, faculty and staff and credentials for registered visitors.听Those unaffiliated with CU-麻豆影院, or who are not approved visitors, will not be permitted on campus.
- Visitors who have official business, meetings or other officially sanctioned activities on the CU-麻豆影院 campus will need to obtain a visitor鈥檚 pass. More details on that process will be announced soon.
Funding for the campus security measures comes from insurance rebates to the campus, not from tuition, student fees or taxpayer funds.
Contact:
Ryan Huff
CU-麻豆影院 spokesperson, 303-492-1042
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