Smart Party Tips

Smart Celebrating Tips
Personal Safety Tips
When Good Parties Turn Bad

Smart Celebrating Tips

If you’re hosting a party:

• Have a theme. Alcohol need not be the focus of your party.
• Keep strangers from entering your party, since you're responsible for their actions. Designate someone to be near the door to avoid problems before they happen.
• Get to know your neighbors and let them know about your party plans.
• Designate a non-drinking monitor to control noise, the most common cause of complaints and police response. Minimize music and loud conversation after 11:00 p.m.
• Keep alcohol INSIDE the party. You're responsible for alcohol leaving the premises.
• Provide food as well as non-alcoholic drinks for under-age guests and drivers.
• Use paper or plastic cups to avoid broken glass and possible injuries, and to simplify clean-up. Clean up as soon as possible after the party.
• Encourage buddy systems to watch for over-consumption and to ensure a safe trip home if you’re walking.
• Take keys away from anyone who shouldn’t be driving, offer rides with a responsible driver or pay for cab rides.
• Our current city, county and state fire ban prohibits all open flames or fires, cigarette smoking outside, charcoal grills in parks and recreation areas, and of course - no fireworks of any sort.
• Cooperate with police if they come to your home or apartment.
• If you or your friends are planning a block party, contact the City of Boulder’s Citizens Services department at 303-441-3090. Fraternities and sororities should contact the CU-Boulder Greek Liaison office at 303-492-0769 and the Boulder Police Department Greek Liaison Officer. If you do have an emergency, dial 911.
• For on-campus non-emergencies call the CU Police at 303-492-6666. For off-campus non-emergencies call the Boulder Police or Fire Departments at 303-441-3333. There’s a community police center located on the Hill at the corner of College and 13th Streets.

Personal Safety Tips

• Failure to move or disperse when requested could result in a threat to your safety. Failure to disperse, once police demand dispersal, can result in criminal obstruction charges. Crowds, people who throw objects, tear gas or mace, broken glass, fire, can all pose serious threats to the safety of bystanders as well.
• Innocent crowds can become large and/or unruly very quickly. Fights and “stampeding” can also be a threat to your safety.
• Emergency vehicles must have access to the area. Since visibility is minimized at night for drivers of these vehicles, stay well away from emergency vehicles and their access routes. Failure to do so is criminal obstruction.
• Fires, even very small ones, can be especially dangerous because of Boulder's unpredictable high winds, our arid climate and the high number of wood homes and trees.
• Try to stay close to a designated friend/partner who can assist you in the event of trouble.

When Good Parties Turn Bad

CU-Boulder has a student code of conduct based on promoting a safe campus environment. As a student, you are expected to conduct yourself according to accepted standards of social behavior, and to abide by university regulations, as well as the laws of the city, state and nation.

Depending on the situation, a student can be suspended or expelled from the university for incurring "two strikes:"

In addition, a student can be suspended or expelled from the university for violating one of the two following university standards, regardless of the number of alcohol-related strikes:

• Standard 2: Interfering with, obstructing or disrupting police or fire responses
• Standard 5: Violating any federal, state or local laws

There are several state laws that can be used to bring charges upon a student participating in a disturbance, including inciting or engaging in a riot, disorderly conduct, and damaging personal property. If convicted of a felony, a student could get a criminal record, which will have to be reported on graduate school and job applications. Cost for damages, fines and legal fees can also put a dent in a student’s bank account.