UCSC contacts parents in attempt to curb infamous pot smoking festival

By GENEVIEVE BOOKWALTER - Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted: 04/06/2009 07:19:42 PM PDT

SANTA CRUZ - Campus leaders are reaching out to parents of first-year
students in an effort to curb the annual unsanctioned April 20 "4/20"
marijuana festival this year.

According to a recently-sent e-mail from Felicia McGinty, vice-chancellor of
student affairs, delivered to inboxes of UC Santa Cruz freshman parents, "I
encourage you to talk with your student about his or her plans for 4/20. Ask
direct questions about the choices they make and express your expectations
regarding marijuana, alcohol or other drug use. Although students may not
initiate discussion on this topic, your opinions and expectations can
influence their behavior."

The letter also details plans to ban overnight guests on campus from Friday,
April 18 through Monday, April 20 - the day that the impromptu event
annually attracts thousands to Porter Meadow at 4:20 p.m. to eat, inhale or
otherwise consume copious amounts of cannabis. In past years, a gray haze
quickly formed over the meadow as thousands of revelers lit up and continued
smoking throughout the late afternoon. While many of those participating are
UCSC students, many, campus leaders have said, are not.

To further discourage the event, the letter said, UCSC will limit bus
service to campus, tow illegally parked cars and further discourage those
not affiliated with the university from showing up. Last year, neither
parking tickets nor barricades across campus entrances could stop those who
wanted to join the celebration.

In her e-mail, McGinty wrote: "While similar '4/20 celebrations' occur
simultaneously on college campuses across the United States, over the past
four years the event here at UCSC has grown in numbers, with many of the
participants being visitors with no investment in our UCSC community. The
growth in scale of this activity has become a concern for both the
University and surrounding community."

Parents wanting more information can e-mail studentaffairs@ucsc.edu.

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_12085094

See e-mail to parents:

Memo sent to parents of UC Santa Cruz students regarding 4/20

Posted: 04/06/2009 03:23:40 PM PDT

The following note was sent to parents of UC Santa Cruz students, regarding
4/20. Last year on April 20, thousands of students gathered on campus and
smoked marijuana as part of an annual tradition for marijuana smokers and
advocates around the world. The university is taking steps to "maintain the
safety of our students and ensure continuity of instruction and services."

Dear Parents and Guardians of First Year Students,

UCSC is committed to providing a safe, healthy living and learning
environment in which your student can thrive while earning a world class
education. To that end, I write to you regarding a non-University sanctioned
event which, although actively discouraged by University officials,
nevertheless continues to occur on our campus. Often referred to as
"Four-Twenty" or "4/20," participants come together, more or less
spontaneously, on April 20 at 4:20 pm for the purpose of smoking marijuana
and to a lesser extent, using other illegal substances. While similar "4/20
celebrations" occur simultaneously on college campuses across the United
States, over the past four years the event here at UCSC has grown in
numbers, with many of the participants being visitors with no investment in
our UCSC community. The growth in scale of this activity has become a
concern for both the University and surrounding community.

In an effort to maintain the safety of our students and ensure continuity of
instruction and services, we continue to institute measures designed to
strongly discourage students and others from participating in this 4/20
event. Among other efforts, a "no guest" policy in on-campus residence halls
has been instituted per contractual agreements. The "no overnight guest"
policy begins on Friday, April 18, 8:00 p.m. and concludes on Monday, April
20, 2009. To ensure safety, additional measures will be taken to limit
access to campus for non-affiliates. Likewise, for a limited time bus
transportation will be curtailed, access to campus will be limited and
illegally parked cars will be towed.

UCSC continues to educate students about the risks of alcohol and drug use,
provide alternative activities, and actively enforce University policies.
Yet, student culture is largely shaped by the individual choices of the
community members. We are concerned about the public use of marijuana and
other illegal drugs on 4/20, as such activities can have both personal and
community consequences. The use of illegal substances is a violation of the
Student Code of Conduct and can result in judicial sanctions. I encourage
you to talk with your student about his or her plans for 4/20. Ask direct
questions about the choices they make and express your expectations
regarding marijuana, alcohol or other drug use. Although students may not
initiate discussion on this topic, your opinions and expectations can
influence their behavior. Research shows that students are influenced by
on-going family discourse regarding the use of alcohol and other drugs.

The first year of college is filled with many choices, changes and
challenges for students. With your support and our collective partnership,
our students can achieve academic and personal success here at UCSC. Thank
you in advance for your support and continued partnership. Please feel free
to contact me if you have questions or concerns. I can be reached at
studentaffairs@ucsc.edu.

Felicia E. McGinty, Ed.D.

Vice Chancellor Student Affairs