St. Patrick’s Day can be a time of festivities and celebration, and we all play a role in keeping each other and our community safe. Here are some tips and reminders before the holiday.
1. Find things to do
Between St. Patrick’s Day silent disco ice skating, a free screening of M3GAN, a trivia night, the TRANSforming Gender Conference and more, there are plenty of events and things to do this week. Check out upcoming student events.
2. Get home safely with CU NightRide
Whatever you choose to do this weekend, make a plan for how to get home safely. CU NightRide provides free, late-night transportation for CU Boulder students, faculty and staff within Boulder city limits. Download the CU NightRide app from the App Store or Google Play to request a ride when you need it.
If you’re outside of Boulder city limits and CU NightRide isn’t an option, consider public transportation or other rideshare services. To get around the Boulder and Denver areas, your College Pass gives you access to all RTD bus and rail routes. The Transit app makes it easy to track the locations of RTD buses (including the HOP) in real time. Download Transit on Google Play or the Apple Store.
3. Avoid getting a ticket
Remember that you’re a Buff wherever you are. Whether you’re on or off campus, be considerate and respectful to those around you.
Excessive noise at any time of the day or night can result in a nuisance ticket—a common citation that can be avoided. A nuisance party ticket is issued when a residence hosts a gathering that violates Boulder ordinances. This includes unreasonable noise, underage drinking, brawling, public urination, littering, etc. You can receive a ticket even if it’s your guests who are being disruptive. You can also be fined if there is trash in your yard or around your property.
If you’re planning on hosting a gathering, lower your chances of receiving a ticket by registering your party with Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations. Registering your party will give you a 20-minute warning to shut things down before police are dispatched if a noise complaint has been made against your address. While a nuisance ticket could result in a hefty fine, registering your party is free.
4. Stay safe at parties
If you choose to use alcohol or other drugs, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Set a limit before you go out and stick to it. Enlist friends to help keep you accountable.
- Make a game plan with friends before going to a party. If plans change, talk about it as a group.
- Assume any prescription or illicit drug purchased from a dealer, friend or roommate likely contains fentanyl.
- Pick up free naloxone and be prepared to use it if someone shows signs of alcohol poisoning or a potential overdose.
- Stay hydrated throughout the day or night while drinking.
- Look out for sketchy situations and keep track of your friends. Never leave an intoxicated person behind at a party.
- Trust your instincts. If something feels weird or wrong, it probably is. It’s okay to make an excuse to leave an uncomfortable situation or party.
If you choose to drink or use other substances, think through the experiences you want to have as well as those you want to avoid. Get more tips for staying safe over St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
5. Call for help in an emergency
Calling for help in an alcohol- or drug-related emergency means neither the person who calls for help nor the person who needs help will be subject to formal disciplinary sanctions by the university (i.e., probation, suspension, expulsion). This includes drug and alcohol violations as well as public health order violations.
CU Boulder Amnesty Policy
To be covered by the Amnesty Policy, a student must:
- Call for help (911 or university staff).
- Stay with the intoxicated individual until help arrives, and put them into the recovery position if they are exhibiting signs of alcohol poisoning.
- Cooperate with staff and emergency responders.
For more information about the Amnesty Policy, visit the Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution website or review the student code of conduct.
911 Good Samaritan Law
The 911 Good Samaritan Law states that a person is immune from criminal prosecution for an offense when the person reports, in good faith, an emergency drug or alcohol overdose even to a law enforcement officer, to the 911 system or to a medical provider.
This same immunity applies to persons who remain at the scene of the event until a law enforcement officer or an emergency medical responder arrives, or if the person remains at the facilities of the medical provider until a law enforcement officer, emergency medical responder or medical provider arrives. The immunity described above also extends to the person who suffered the emergency drug or alcohol overdose event.
6. Look out for each other
Whether you’re in Boulder or elsewhere this week, it’s important to prepare in advance and have a plan in place in case things do not go as expected. If you’re venturing out with others, find a space where you can go if things feel like they’re getting out of hand.
Use the buddy system with one of your close friends. Be sure to keep an eye on one another and keep each other safe throughout the night. Never leave a friend or roommate alone with people you just met or don’t know well. It can also be helpful to have a plan or someone you can reach out to in case you need to leave a dangerous situation.
Review more tips to help you look out for your fellow Buffs.