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UCSC Reefer Madness! Campus lockdown!

by Not a toker, but not a fascist either
Campus lockdown in anticipation of April 20th
640_reefer_madness.jpg
While a bill is currently being introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 5843, Barney Frank D-Mass.) to eliminate all federal penalties for marijuana possession, UCSC administrators have put the campus on lockdown in anticipation of the dreaded 4-20.

_____

April 17, 2008

To: Faculty and Staff
Fr: Executive Vice Chancellor David Kliger
Re: "4-20" Activity

April 20th (4-20) has become known nationwide as the date when people
gather to communally smoke marijuana in an expression of support for the
reform of marijuana laws. In recent years, thousands of people have
gathered on the UCSC campus to participate in this event.

The University does not condone, support or otherwise sanction this
event. The increasingly large crowds that have gathered in recent years
present safety risks for participants, whether students or people not
affiliated with the campus. This activity also violates a number of
campus regulations designed to provide for the well-being of our campus
and neighboring community.

In anticipation of this year's April 20 activity, I have authorized the
implementation of a number of restrictions for this coming weekend,
April 19-20. This communication is intended to alert the community of
the transportation changes, parking restrictions, and other actions that
will limit access to campus.

This advance notification is provided to enable those who have valid
reasons for coming to campus this weekend to adjust their schedules and
transportation plans accordingly:

o The West Entrance to campus will be closed to inbound vehicular
traffic on Sunday.

o The Main Entrance will be open that day, but campus personnel will
restrict vehicular access to people who have UCSC parking permits or who
can show evidence they are attending sanctioned campus events that day.

o Parking permits will be required in all campus lots throughout the
weekend, even in those that typically require no permits on weekends.
The parking restriction will include evening hours on Friday, Saturday,
and Sunday nights. (If you need to park on campus this weekend and do
not currently have a permit, you will need to purchase one by 6 p.m. on
Friday.)

o At our request Metro bus drivers will not bring riders onto campus on
Sunday. The only "campus" stop, coming to and from UCSC, will be the one
adjacent to the Main Entrance on Empire Grade. (If disability
transportation is needed as a result of this restriction, special van
service on campus can be requested at this one bus stop.)

o There will be no on-campus shuttle service during the day on Sunday.

o Empire Grade will be designated as a tow-away zone, and vehicles that
illegally park on Empire Grade during the weekend will be ticketed and
may be towed at the owners' expense. Extra patrols will be on duty to
enforce these restrictions.

o Drivers and passengers who can't prove that they have a legitimate
reason to be on campus on Sunday will be turned away at the main gate.
People can anticipate that there will be delays at the Main Entrance's
kiosk.

Please remember that all UCSC students, staff and their guests are
expected to comply with University policy and federal and state law.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
§4/20 santa cruz
by DEA/Chancelor Blumenthal
Blumenthal sent the following letter out to all UCSC students. Thought I would do the honors of inviting everyone to UCSC this weekend. This is insane.

April 17, 2008

To: All Students
Fr: Vice Chancellor Felicia E. McGinty, Ed.D
Re: April 20th, 2008

Dear UCSC Students,

UCSC is committed to providing a safe, healthy environment in which our
students, staff and faculty can thrive. To that end, I write to you
regarding a non-University sanctioned event that has become concerning for
our community. Often referred to as "Four-Twenty" or "4/20," this event
revolves around the use of marijuana and other illegal drugs. Over the past
four years, we have seen this non-sanctioned event grow in numbers from
several hundred people to over 5,000 people last year.

This activity has become a concern to the University administration, to our
campus community, parents, prospective students and families, and members
of the greater community. We are particularly concerned about the sheer
number of people who may show up to participate in this event.
Participants in the past have been UCSC students, some middle school and
high school minors, and many non-affiliates with no investment in our
community.

In light of the large number of unplanned people who may arrive on our
campus this weekend, several measures will be implemented to ensure the
safety of the greater campus community. I want to provide all students
with a summary of these measures so that you may plan accordingly in
advance of the weekend. I regret the inconvenience these measures may
cause.

o Campus Access and Kiosk Gate Program: The campus will be closed to
non-affiliates during Sunday, April 20. The kiosks at the two entrances to
campus will be staffed from regular Saturday evening hours, beginning at 8
p.m., through all day Sunday, ending, Monday at 6 a.m. Proof of
affiliation will be required, per standard operating procedures. The West
Entrance to campus will be closed to inbound vehicular traffic on Sunday.
The Main Entrance will be open that day, but campus personnel will restrict
vehicular access to people who have UCSC parking permits or who can show
evidence they are attending sanctioned campus events that day.

Students who live off campus and wish to drive onto campus during this
period will need to present both a University Parking Permit and a
Student ID.

Guests attending pre-approved campus events must also have a parking permit
or park in metered spaces.

Drivers and passengers who can't prove that they have a legitimate reason
to be on campus on Sunday will be turned away at the main gate. People can
anticipate that there will be delays at the Main Entrance's kiosk.

o Alcohol and illegal substances: Possession, consumption or sale of
alcoholic beverages and illegal substances are prohibited.

o Guests: Your guests and their behavior on campus are your
responsibility. Violation of federal, state, or University policy by you
and/or your guests, are subject to the Student Code of Conduct. Please
refer to the following web sites for specific detail:
http://www2.ucsc.edu/judicial/handbook.shtml

o University Housing Guest Policy: For students who live in
University Housing, the Guest Policy for student residences will be
suspended on Saturday and Sunday night, April 19 and April 20. Residents
will not be permitted to have overnight guests on these evenings.
Exceptions to this restriction should be made in consultation with your
respective Coordinator for Residential Education or Residential Manager.

o Student Behavior: Behaviors that are violations of federal and
state law and University policy, as outlined in the Student Handbook,
including violations related to the possession, consumption, distribution,
or sale of marijuana will be subject to citing by University Police or
referral to the Student Judicial Affairs by Residential Staff, Community
Safety Officers or other campus officials. Please refer to the following
web sites for specific detail:
http://www2.ucsc.edu/judicial/handbook.shtml

o Parking: Parking permits will be required in all campus lots
throughout the weekend, even in those that typically require no permits on
weekends. The parking restriction will include evening hours on Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday nights. (If you need to park on campus this weekend
and do not currently have a permit, you will need to purchase one by 6 p.m.
on Friday.) Residential Students who wish to park on campus throughout the
weekend will be required to have a parking permit on your car or you may be
ticketed.

Parking will be strictly enforced on Empire Grade road, campus roads and
all campus parking lots. For safety and welfare of drivers and
pedestrians, any cars parked on Empire Grade road on Sunday, April 20, will
be towed at the owner's expense.

o Campus transportation: Metro bus drivers, at the University's
request, will not bring riders onto campus on Sunday. The only "campus"
stop, coming to and from UCSC, will be the one adjacent to the Main
Entrance. (If disability transportation is needed as a result of this
restriction, special van service on campus can be requested at this one bus
stop.) There will be no on-campus shuttle service during the day on Sunday.

o Vending: Vendors of food and merchandise will not be permitted on
campus, including vending from any of our campus members or groups, without
permission and according to our vending regulations. Please refer to the
following web site:
http://www2.ucsc.edu/judicial/Comm_Act_Policy.pdf

While these measures may be an inconvenience for many in our community, I
am hopeful that they will assist the campus in managing the sizeable crowd
that may gather throughout the weekend and on Sunday. Again, our goal is
to manage the crowd, discourage behaviors that are policy violations and
address safety risks. I am hopeful that this information will also assist
you in coordinating your plans for the weekend.

Thank you for you time, consideration, and compliance.

§Sammy the Slug
by 4/20 at UCSC
sammy-the-slug.jpg
This year, 4/20 is on Sunday. Next year, 4/20 is on Monday. Last year, 4/20 was on Friday.

A Portrait: 420 at UC Santa Cruz
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/04/25/18405120.php

UC Santa Cruz 4/20/07
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN_VsC3Tl1M

4/20 Santa Cruz 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k767yqeFfsY&NR=1

UCSC 420
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHFRw9CoGFA&NR=1

420 Santa Cruz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLbAotzHqqw&feature=related

UCSC 420 Migration
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUMepmGRvwE&feature=related

420 (cannabis culture)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/420_(cannabis_culture)
§420 at Porter Field
by Let's all get high
640_420-at-ucsc.jpg
HAPPY 4/20!!! Everyone come to Porter Meadow at UCSC for 4/20 to celebrate international marijuana day. Even if you don't smoke come and hang out! i pay too much fuckin money to live here for them to tell me i can't have guests over.
§we'll hotbox the entire school
by Sammy The Slug
ucsc-slug.jpg
Last year was Epic. If you don't smoke you should at least come to see the spectacle.
§screw that, just SHOW UP be there! dance, sing, enjoy! What can they do?
by I'm a dancin' fool, ain't no cops gonna stop
I'm going. I'm bringing my drums, and I plan to enjoy myself. I hope to see everyone out en masse... let's dance our asses off...

what would be really funny is if we didn't take any weed at all, so what could they even bust us for?

ah well, I'm gonna go dance and enjoy the out doors with some community.

UCSC administration or not.
§420 at Porter
by Slugs, Drugs and Hugs
420-at-porter.jpg
Isn't this a bit much? It's imprisoning those people who live on campus and do not have cars. Also, isn't weed supposed to be "lowest priority" in Santa Cruz? Doesn't seem like a low priority when you guys are completely shutting down a campus and screwing over thousands of students all because of a tradition? I'm actually pretty pissed off at the University...
§4/20 at the Porter Meadow
by 2005
ucsc-420-2005.jpg
§Porter Meadow, 2005
by RP
porter-ucsc-420-2005.jpg
§Valerie Corral's repsonse to this maddness (from wamm.org)
by Mimi Hill
UCSC’s 420 lockdown is not about 420. It is an aggressive action against peaceful assembly. Students vote. In Santa Cruz county more that a decade ago medical marijuana passed by 71% and last year marijuana was declared the lowest priority of the law. UCSC, take a breath!

Among the responsibilities of every institution of higher education, including UCSC is: to uphold the constitution, to protect the rights of each student, not to violate them, and to provide public access to citizens of our community whose taxes support UCSC.

Ask yourself, should UCSC be denying the right to peacefully assemble? When 4000 people assemble in support of a common interest this community takes note. The university seeks to create chaos out of peaceful assembly. Shame on you! We thought we taught our elders better! See: The First Amendment of the Constitution.

We welcome everyone (including all people turned away from UCSC) to our free party to celebrate WAMM's Quinceñera -- 15 years of serving each other with medical marijuana. DIY 4/20 at 4:20pm. Join the revolution of consciousness with us. The Free DIY party begins in the parking lot behind Pearl Alley at Lincoln and Cedar and features: Omega Project, Genea Gjaguar, Clown Burlesque, Radical Cheerleaders, Lisa Dewey, Kinetica, Ariginal and Las Palamitas. Simultaneously for those 21 or over with a valid ID our beloved Club Dakota is donating all proceeds from the door to WAMM and DJ A.D. will be spinning Motown. This event is proudly sponsored by the Santa Cruz Dyke March. Dress as your favorite Superhero/Villian. Peace Santa Cruz.
Add Your Comments

Comments (Hide Comments)
by super star
Let's do something in response to this somehow...?

by lassieladdie
Many of the people who participate in the festivities might have to work tomorrow. So here's my suggestion. We stage an all day protest. If this many people actually do come up to celebrate 4/20 then we should be able to get enough people up on campus tomorrow.

We'll start at 10:00 AM-we'll go to the BayTree bookstore area where there is already an anti military recruiters protest planned. We'll bring our signs, our dreads, our smiles, and our presence, and make sure we just keep it coming all day.

Those of you who work but perhaps get a lunch break, why don't you come up and join us between 12 and 2. Bring your lunch and come on up and eat lunch in the quad. Joe's sells beer to those over 21. Of course you can't leave Joe's with your beer, but get a beer, then come on back and hold a sign that says something like "we wish to sit in your field mr. blumenthall, please allow us to enjoy the sunshine..."

and we can keep it going... because Joe's has a friday happy hour I believe, so keep coming up to campus all day long. Everyone.

And invite as many people as you can. We'll have a party up on campus tomorrow. Bring some music too. We'll take over the quad.

Come one come all!

Pass this on...

peace.
by Keep it real, and keep it local
The 4/20 party has been going on for about 20 years on campus. It used to be a couple dozen folks, then a hundred or so, and it took place in front of the Chancellor's Office at McHenry.

Now it's a couple of thousand folks, and a lot of them aren't from campus or even from Santa Cruz..it's a destination gathering now. And that's why I think they've drawn the line.

The 17 year old kid who thinks its fun to come to the 4/20 party is the same kid who's parents are gonna sue the crap out of the University when they're baby-darlin gets hit by a car coming off campus, or whatever else might just happen to happen. The campus is gonna be held responsible. So they're damned if they don't, and now you're damnin them if they do.

If you're a student, go ahead and burn on campus; I doubt anyone is gonna care.

If you're from out of town or off campus? Go smoke somewhere else, Santa Cruz isn't gonna care.

If you show up just to be an "activist" on this issue? You need to look in the mirror and acknowledge you need to raise your bar, cause you're not an activist, you're a wanna-be poseur.
by a poser
why would you come on here and call someone a poser? what's your point?

How ridiculous can you be?
by Keep it real, and keep it local
What's activist about demanding to smoke pot on the UC campus on 4/20? When that same campus is one of the most liberal in the US, doesn't bust people for smoking pot 24/7/365, and is located in a town that has voted and designated that marijuana busts be the lowest possible priority for cops? As such, it's preaching to the converted. It's like a Mormon prostalatizing for Mormonism from a soapbox in Salt Lake City.

And it's petty; it's not activism, it's playing activist. It's pouting because mom and dad said "no" and so "I'm gonna show em."
So you ask how ridiculous can I be? I think the better question is how ridiculous is that? To put up a rallying cry to go up to UCSC and demand your right to smoke pot, and think that's some kind of a statement? Pleeeeeeease.


(And it's poseUr, not poser. Just sayin.)

by POSER P-O-S-E-R
It's not about the pot. I don't even smoke weed. The argument is that the tactics of this current chancellor have been increasingly draconian, and I for one take issue with that. I believe there should be a presence on campus because Blumenthall and the rest of his ilk are of the mind-set that this is OK, along with the other ridiculous policies that they have been behind lately. I disagree, therefore, I am going to carry a sign saying so. in the mean time...

it's actually P-O-S-E-R unless of course you have something at stake, in which case perhaps you are POSING...so shush child... and think about what you're saying before you say it.

by spare change
I can't believe how much uproar there is on this. On both sides.

Ok, ok. It's bullshit that they're shutting down transportation and other functions to deter the porter meadow crowds. I agree with 'keep it real' that it makes sense why they want to cover their asses, but it seems like so much more of a detriment and even sort of punishment to people who don't even PARTAKE. fuck that.

lassieladdie, it's that stupid ass 'wo0o0o0o0o0hhhh party' mentality thats creating a problem in the first place. don't come on this site trying to rally up a crowd... ask yourself who you're talking to with that "our signs, our dreads, our smiles, and our presence" garbage and you'll realize that its selfish folks, such as yourself, that are doing much less good than you might think.

and in general, i'm really pissed that its shit like this that gets a bulk of students in uproar, much more than MORE fucked up things that are happening on our campus. an amazing afscme rally happened last week, i've heard very few passing conversations about the state of labor, privatization, and a wealth of other problems many of us choose to stay blind to. instead, from the bus ride up this morning until i left around 7 i heard about 10 mentions of 'that email'.

what are we here for, fellow students? the right to smoke our brains out? or is it the opportunity to learn about what's going in the world, the real injustices, and the constructive actions we can take to make a difference?
by Porter Student
1. To the uninformed intellect-feigners out there, the OED replies:

poseur, n. A person who deliberately adopts a particular attitude or pose; a person with an affected or pretentious style or demeanour. Cf. POSER n.2

(If you are, in fact, UCSC students, OED is a university-provided service that I suggest you begin to utilize.)

2. There is nothing in the VICE-Chancellor's letter (i.e. NOT George Blumenthal, whom at the very least you should recognize as only one of many potential enemies) pertaining to actual happenings at the Porter Meadow on April 20. It is possible, albeit increasingly doubtful, that legitimate UCSC students will be able to proceed as per usual--that is, once they get past the traffic jam.

3. Yes, it sucks that students living on campus will be stranded, but does anyone remember the Fall 2005 Metro Bus strike? You'll make it through the day, I promise.

4. This event has been huge for a while now, and it's only because of increased media coverage that the administration has decided it's time to do something about it. See:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24036484/ and
http://67.15.208.115/story.php?sid=44105&storySection=Local&fromSearch=true&searchTerms=survey

Frankly, I don't want any of those high schoolers, Christian protesters, film crews, t-shirt vendors, random outsiders or media assholes in my meadow anyway.
by lassieladdie
OK wow. There is a lot of judgment going on here.

I have been an activist for twenty years. I have traveled all over the country participating in various actions since about 1986. I am not a poseUr or a poser, or whatever else. I am not sitting on my ass getting ticked off because my ability to smoke pot in a certain place at a certain time has been restricted. I am angry at Blumenthal, and yes I am quite aware that his name is not specifically on this memo but I am also not so dumb to think that somehow this has nothing to do with him. I am angry because since this fall the campus has had an increasingly tense feeling and I'm really disturbed by this. A good example of this was the over the top police presence at the save upper campus rallies. Another example are the memos sent out threatening student protesters throughout the fall. Another example of this was the warning message sent to staff/faculty regarding the three republicans who staged a "demonstration" in front of the humanities building-the warning said that the police were on notice and ready to protect "us" if anything got out of hand.

These are serious issues that you as students on this campus should be concerned about. Your money is paying for this type of campus government If you want to keep it, then good on ya, I'm out of here in a couple of weeks anyway. So if you would rather us sit back and let the campus become increasingly conservative, then here's to "UC Silicon Valley"-enjoy yourselves.

If, on the other hand, you would like it to grow into a unique campus that challenges its administration, that has unique events like 4/20 that has historically not had any major incidents for which this administration could use as a precedent, then perhaps you ought to show up tomorrow. In addition, there is a protest that we should all be at anyway tomorrow and that is against the military recruiters being on campus. I find it terribly sad that this administration allows the military to come on campus and recruit kids to go and be a part of the world's largest war machine, but will shut campus down (nearly shut it down anyway) over some folks smoking pot and acting like stoner fools eating a bunch of munchies and saying "dooood that sun is sooooo cool isn't sun a funny word" and rolling around and laughing for a few hours.

If you are going to be actually critical, then great. But if you are going to attack my character, my history of activism, or my reason for this, when I have already argued for this, then I suggest you refrain from doing so. It is not a form of actual argumentation or discussion and it doesn't promote anything other than negativity and there's no use for that.

peace.
by lassieladdie
I *am* a student on this campus.
by whoodaleehoo
<img src="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/images/2004/05/292199.jpg" alt="292199.jpg" />
by .89
I keep missing this even though I'm staff. It's sunday this year.

Restricting driving and parking is not necessarily horrible, as students have actually killed cyclists in the past year when drunk. However, anyone should be able to bike or walk in. For the longest time when I first arrived here, the campus looked like a large mountain bike course, because the academic buildings are somewhat hidden, and dozens of people come through on the weekend on the way to Wilder ranch park.
It is nearly impossible for them to cut off bike access unless they stationed someone on every trail in the woods above campus.
by Four Twenty
"In Boulder, university spokesman Bronson Hilliard said officials accept that they can’t really stop the event. “There was a period of three or four years where we were trying something different every year,” he said. “One year the sprinklers came on and it was a kind of cold day and the party was over. In 2006, we tried posting photos of students and offering reward money.” But after that plan backfired spectacularly amid threats of a lawsuit from a prominent civil rights attorney, new leadership on campus backed off."
by Robert Norse
As various posters have pointed out, there are several issues here.

One is the ongoing Drug War. Santa Cruz has an undeserved "liberal" reputation here. In fact, City Council sabotaged the will of the voters in the Measure K Commission, passed in 2006 by 64% of the voters, disregarded by the Council, then gutted in a backroom court settlement. (See http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/10/08/18452900.php)

The local D.A. has not held back from prosecuting some medical marijuana providers (though the two clubs and WAMM in the city are left alone), using the noxious theory that NO clubs are legal unless they provide direct "care" to their customers. (See http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/11/01/18457619.php)

A second concern is the unprecedented police shutdown of the campus. Not against the real menace of murderous militarism, but part of a bogus Drug War agenda which a majority of the campus and the community undoubtably oppose.

A final concern is more fundamental: the elimination of the right of assembly in the Santa Cruz area off-campus as well. Under Mayor Coonerty, the Santa Cruz City Council has moved forward to reassert police officers discretionary power to rule parties "unruly" and charge huge fines (see http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/03/13/18485347.php).

Coonerty's special law has made sitting your car in a public parking lot at any time for 16 minutes criminal in all the downtown parking lots and garages. Standing and chatting with your friends for any period of time at all--unless you have a vehicle there--is illegal (See http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/01/23/18474460.php and http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/01/27/18475202.php )

A fundamental wave of repressive reaction is still gripping the country (http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7370).

Mainstream politicians are pursuing the same old path with new rhetoric (http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle_blog/2008/feb/01/nevermind_barack_obama_wants_to_)
(http://rawstory.com/news/2008/House_Democrats_to_fund_war_to_0417.html)

Those who want to resist this must do so locally. Local political parties, politicians, etc. will not save us.
by ...outraged?
Spare Change has a good point in his post. While I disagree with his critical take of people that want to get together, bring their smiles, dreads, and weed wherever they want, it is rather bonkers that this issue has gotten so much of a response while a variety of other more seriously fucked up things are taking place with little response.

What is worth protesting more, that the administration is trying to keep you from smoking pot on 1 day or that people who are cleaning up after you in lecture aren't earning a living wage?
by freedom, you idiots
Why is ther a contradiction between those who want to be able to be where they want with whatever substance they want, and an end to the exploitation of the workers on campus. In fact they're really part of the same struggle for freedom. I hope that everybody who can makes it to Snata Cruzto stop them taking away our right to party.
by Sharndeep
Thank you Robert, for posting those opinions and information.
by scchiller
It is really too bad that the university is doing this. There are alternatives to the Porter Field.

WAMM, the longest running medical marijuana organization in the nation, is throwing their 15th anniversary party in downtown Santa Cruz.


EVENT: Draggin’ Fest WAMM’s Quinceñera

ADMISSION: FREE outside Pearl Ally parking lot (Lincoln and Cedar) and a door charge of $4.20 inside with a valid ID over 21 at Club Dakota (1209 Pacific Ave). All donations will benefit the Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana.

PROGRAM: Did I hear 4/20? Get out your stilts and hula-hoops. Dress up as your favorite super hero or villain. Santa Cruz Dyke March throws a D.I.Y. Do It Yourself street party to benefit WAMM’s Quincinera! Sunday 4/20 at 4:20pm OUTSIDE at Pearl Alley parking lot across from Farmers’ Market. INSIDE at Club Dakota a WAMM benefit with D.J. A.D. spinning Motown for those over 21 with a valid ID.

Join the revolution of consciousness with: Omega Project, Genea Gjaguar, Clown Burlesque, Radical Cheerleaders, Lisa Dewey, Kinetica, Ariginal and Las Palamitas.

wamm.org santacruzdykemarch.org (831) 425-0580

<img src="http://santacruzdykemarch.com/draggin-poster-flattened5.jpg" alt="draggin-poster-flattened5.jpg" />
by Dragon Lover
Come on guys. Especially Robert. This isn't about the pot or repressing the masses. UCSC has an obligation to the members of the campus community to keep some kind of order. An uncontrolled event like this is not about free speech its about partying. UCSC is liable for each and every injury that occurs if they don't try to impose some kind of control. Also what about the services needed for this kind of crowd. Where are all these people going to shit? How about the mess? Who is going to clean up all the litter and other crap (letreally since there are no services)? How about first aid if someone gets injured? If there are cars parked everywhere how will emergency services get through to fight the fire that starts when someone drops a match or lit roach? How will the ambulance get through fro the guy who fell out of the tree? There is much more to all of this than they don't like pot or they want to restrict your rights. Robert I suggest you start thinking a bit more before you sound off. You have a very narrow limited view of the world and you really don't have a grasp of the logistics that administrations have to go through to keep things running.
by shanacat
I totally agree. There are many students on campus who could care less about 420 celebration, but due to vandalism in the past are being punished. I agree that school administration is attempting to reduce the amount of people who are on campus simply to party. It is unfair to those of us who need to study this weekend. This is not simply a place to party, but a place in which people have the right to study and learn without having to dealing with protester or others who are denying them that right.
If you want to party, go downtown. Have fun, get drunk and high. I have a paper to write.
Authorities who want to crack down frequently dredge up "public health and safety" concerns. The real question is how real are such concerns? How many people were injured last year or the year before? Or any year before that? Were there any arrests or complaints?

There was no substantive showing of a public health and safety concern that showed a real "crime" problem in the parking lots and garages when Mayor Coonerty and his Downtown Association friends moved to make it a $100+ crime to loiter in a parking lot.
No stats were presented this year by police when the Unruly Parties law was essentially rubberstamped again.

Have the UCSC authorities shown any justification for this unilateral move? I know the UCSC PD never answered public records act requests made around their brutal repression of Tent University in 2005 (See http://santacruz.indymedia.org/newswire/display/17462/index.php & http://santacruz.indymedia.org/newswire/display/17462/index.php)

How much money is this all costing? Public Records Act requests followed up persistently can uncover this kind of information.

Keep posting updates to keep those of us not at UCSC informed.

I invite folks to call in 4-20 on my morning radio show at 101.1 FM (427-3772) to report on what happened on campus todayand how the authorities behave on 4-20 Sunday. The show runs from 9:30 AM to 1 PM.
by Dragon Lover
Robert just because no one got hurt last year or the year before doesn't mean a thing. Just because you were lucky doing something risky doesn't mean it is without risk it means you were lucky. The university has an obligation to minimize risk, so does any city for that matter. I find it hard to believe anyone in todays society is not aware of the litigious nature of the populace. When there is a lawsuit for everything from mental angiush to you should have know that coffee was hot public entities have no choice but to play it safe. The few whiners and troublemakers have spoiled it for all of us.
by Robert Norse
Dragonlover: Your arguments ignore the First Amendments to the Federal and State Constitution: i.e. the right to peaceably assemble for a redress of grievances. The fact that something "might" go wrong, someone "might" sue is no justification for imposing police state restrictions on a campus, particularly on a content-based issue such as this.

The fact that folks succumb to this kind of public space shutdown based on the vague sayso of cops and bureaucrats reminds us there's no time like the present for reclaiming our rights.

How did the demo go today on campus, by the way?
by Dragon Lover
The Demo was a bust Robert. Look I agree the 1st amendment gets trampled a lot. But there are also issues that have to be addressed in todays society. I think that you and others ignore the realities of todays society when you immediately cry 1st amendment violation. The 1st amendment does not give you the right to say what you want, when you want where you want. Can you say fire in a crowded theater. I do not think that a crowd smoking pot can be considered a 1st amendm,ent issue (even if it is really dumb ass I can buy booze but not pot at a local 7-11). A college campus is not in the true sense a public space. Whether you like it or not the administrators of the campus have duty to the greater college community just as the city has a duty to the greater city community. Just because a group is vocal does not mean they speak for the majority.
by spare change
they really can't bust people for peaceably assembling in the meadow. they're just trying to limit the numbers so it doesn't get out of control. it's been growing exponentially the last few years, i agree - fire or injury would not be attended to well in a crowd like that.
by Nice double standard
I find it humorous that you're lambasting the University for inhibiting student's rights and liberties...while at the same time you're hosting a party that won't allow attendee's under age 21 because THAT would be breaking the law.

Sweet irony.

Why do you feel that it's okay for you to toe the law, but that it's an infringement on civil liberties when the Uni. does it? From all the press releases I've seen from the University, they aren't stopping any of their students; they're stopping non-students from getting onto the campus that day. And many of those non-students, as well as students are minors.

Do you support recreational marijuana use by minors?

by Screaming Slug
"they're stopping non-students from getting onto the campus that day"

They are stopping STUDENTS! from getting onto campus with the bus we have already paid for! UCSC is taking away the shuttle service that we have already paid for. They are closing the primary entrance (the WEST ENTRANCE) for many students on campus. UCSC is preventing non-students from entering a public campus! And UCSC has power the enforce the towing of cars parked on Empire Grade as well?!! This is a complete outrage.
by AFSCME Strike, etc.
Guess it's okay to pick and choose when it's okay to stop a bus and when it isn't, based upon your own personal politics.
by Senior slug
In response to closing the campus to its students, or at least keeping the buses out. They are closing the campus to car access, not to student access. Unless your legs are broken, walk! For those who need it, they have handicapped services. And as I see it, there aren't too many at UCSC who wouldn't benefit from a bit of exercise.
by Long Walk
"Unless your legs are broken, walk!"

It is very long walk from the base of campus to the Science Library. When I am done at the library, I will have to walk all the way to the base of the campus to catch a bus home. It is about 2 miles from the base of campus to Crown and Merrill College. UCSC is creating unsafe an unsafe situation in the name of public safety.
by Student i.d. allowed
They're closing it to Non-Students.

God, the whining. How are we going to save the world if something as insignificant as this puts everybody on their ear?
by jaylenoislame
I need to get to the library. This is not whining. This is a genuine complaint.

Because of a few hundred people who go to the campus for what, three hours? Four hours? REALLY? I can't get to the library because of THAT?

and you're telling me that *I'm* whining.

SOOOOOOOOOO stupid.

Especially since there is no precedent set for this. period.

I'm really shocked at the apathy of these students, the lack of concern over the fact that their campus leadership is willing and *ABLE* to shut down their campus willy nilly. Because with the evidence there in complete clarity, one can only conclude that this is willy nilly. It's frightening to be perfectly honest.

by Leni
I tend to ride my bike up the hill most days because on average it is much faster than the bus. Are they stopping people walking onto campus? I'm not going, because the youtube will probably be more rewarding to me, and I want to go do more with my Sunday. Here is what I'd do, even if I were driving, and wanted to get in without a staff card. Just glance at a map of Pogonip park. There are entrances near Spring street (also good for biking in, because you can get right onto the campus drive after crossing 100m of dirt road), and from Pogonip there are several major and several minor footpaths over the hill onto the campus. You can also park by Harvey west and cross pogonip that way.
The homeless folks in this town all spend hours trooping back and forth carrying all their possessions down the railroad tracks into forested parts of Pogonip, Cowell, and Wilder Ranch. At most this would have realized discrimination against physically disabled people who need the bus and are stuck somewhere. Biking, it already takes 20 min to traverse campus, but it might be a 2 or 2.5 mile walk (40-50min) from Pogonip. Still... what is it about the experience of marijuana that you desire? It's about talking with friends and relaxing and focusing on your sensations, so you might as well walk. It's probably bad to drive anytime afterwards either.
by Student i.d. allowed
You can drive there, you can walk there, you can hitch there...all you need is a student i.d.

They didn't shut it because of a few hundred people; they shut it because of a few thousand, many of those minors. It's a huge liability issue.



by don't own a car
I already paid the UC Regents and SCMTD to RIDE THE BUS. I do not own a car. UCSC is severally restricting access of UCSC students to the UCSC campus.
by Dragon Lover
It is for one weekend for crying out loud. This is not done willy nilly it is done to protect the universities interests. If this is the worst that happens in you academic careers then you will be fortunate indeed.
The Uni. contracts with the SCMTD to give students rides, but it pays on an actual per-rider basis. Your inability to ride the buses today, as bad as that may be, actually saves money for the university to use for other student related needs.

Thank you for your participation, albeit without a choice.
by willy nilly
if there were a precedent set then it would indeed not be willy nilly. since there has not been an issue in the past then yes in fact this is the university shutting down the campus that I pay a buttload of money to go to and to have access to willy nilly.

THIS is actually setting a scarier precedent than the idea that a few 17 year olds might smoke weed.

please.

I don't even give a flying crap about 4/20. I work full time, go to school full time, took today off specifically to go to campus to go to the library... I will try to hitch hike up there and see if you fellow students (in whom my faith is waning) will pick me up.

It's BS.

I'm just sayin'. They could have sent out an email weeks ago in order for me to "arrange my schedule" accordingly. A few days-those of us with jobs... we can't make plans at three days' notice.

I know a lot of you don't have to work for a living, so I know to you this looks like whining. But when mommy and daddy cut you off- then tell me about whining, mmmk?

peace.
by Sharndeep
Dragon Lover, I don't think these students are saying that what is happening is "unfortunate" to their academic careers. They are showing dissent about an action on behalf of the UCSC administration.

Most UCSC students know they are very lucky to be in the positions they are in, but that does not mean being passive when YOUR administration who is supposed to be representing YOUR interests ("we are here to serve the student community" jargon you hear all the time from Felicia) makes a decision that does not serve your needs/interests at all.
by Dragon Lover
It ain't the students campus. It is the universities campus. The students just go there. It is the universities mission to support education, and research. How does restricting the access of non-students effect either of these? In fact it supports them by not tying up resources for non-education non-research activities. I keep hearing the students say it is my campus I pay them they should dance to my tune. Wrong folks you are just a temporary resident. The tuition the students pay only cover a small fraction of what it costs to run the university.
by shocked at the apathy
thought you all might find this amusing:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=gIQz6YcFgQ4
by just curious
do you mean universities or do you mean university's ?

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