CU-Boulder closed Friday to unauthorized visitors

The University of Colorado Boulder announced it will be open to students, faculty and staff on Friday, April 20, but closed to unauthorized non-affiliates due to the disruption caused by the 4/20 gathering.

“The gathering disrupts teaching and research right in the heart of the campus,” said CU-Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano. “The size of the crowd has become unmanageable and limits our faculty, staff and students from getting to class, entering buildings and doing their basic work. It needs to end.”

On Friday, CU-Boulder’s normal academic activity will continue as scheduled, but the following measures will be in place:

• Students, faculty, staff and all CU-Boulder affiliates will need their Buff OneCard IDs to get on, and around, the campus. Those not affiliated with CU-Boulder will not be permitted on campus and face tickets for trespassing. Those cited for trespassing face punishment of up to six months in jail and a $750 fine. District Attorney Stan Garnett has discussed April 20 enforcement operations with CU Police officials. His office will handle the prosecution of those who receive tickets. “As always, the District Attorney’s Office will work to support the efforts of the CU Police Department,” Garnett said.
• For those visitors who have tickets for CU events from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 20, or who are participants in academic meetings, symposia, conferences or other officially sanctioned activities, limited access to campus will be provided via a special registration program. Visitors will check in at the CU-Boulder East Campus Administrative and Research Center at 3100 Marine St. Please register for this service by going online to http://www.colorado.edu/april20 or call the CU information line at 303-492-4636.  After 6 p.m., no special access to the campus is required, though visitors should be advised that traffic getting into and out of the campus is likely to be heavy.
• Police will be checking for Buff OneCard IDs, and have checkpoints set up at all major campus entrances.
• Norlin Quad lawn areas will be closed to all people. Anyone, regardless of campus affiliation, who enters these areas may face a ticket for trespassing. Closure signage will be clearly displayed in this area. All areas of the campus – including other fields – will be closed to non-affiliates.
• Visitors will not be allowed to park on campus. Attendants will check those traveling to campus for Buff One IDs and parking permits.
• CU Police issued tickets for marijuana possession last year. Officers will do the same this year. However, this year people will see a larger presence of officers.
• Those who smoke marijuana may face a ticket, which can result in a $100 fine, revocation of a person’s medical marijuana registry card upon conviction, and sanctions against students who receive tickets by CU’s Office of Student Conduct.
• A large presence of police officers from CU-Boulder and regional agencies will be in place. The Colorado State Patrol will conduct enhanced patrols on U.S. 36, Colo. 93, the Diagonal Highway and other highways throughout the day, looking for drivers under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
• The Colorado Department of Revenue’s Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division will have a team of officers deployed on campus and throughout Boulder to monitor medical marijuana centers and ensure compliance with licensing regulations.
• CU organizations and academic units have been advised to move non-essential meetings and gatherings that require visitors, partners and stakeholders to more convenient times later in the spring semester.
• Regent Drive will be closed to through traffic from approximately 1:30 to 6 p.m. Buses will be allowed to use Regent Drive, but drivers should plan alternate routes.
• The Buff Bus and RTD Stampede, 209 and J routes will be affected between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Please see http://www.colorado.edu/pts/news/index.html for details on how these routes will be altered and/or delayed.

The university announced on April 3 that a concert with the performer Wyclef Jean, sponsored by the CU Student Government in partnership with CU-Boulder’s Program Council, will be hosted at the Coors Events Center. Doors open at 2 p.m. and all CU students with Buff OneCards are invited to attend. The show is expected to end at 7 p.m. No non-CU students will be admitted.