cannabisnews.com: UCSC Takes Security Measures for 4/20 UCSC Takes Security Measures for 4/20 Posted by CN Staff on April 18, 2008 at 05:34:54 PT By J.M. Brown, Sentinel Staff Writer Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel Santa Cruz, CA -- UC Santa Cruz officials will restrict visitor and vehicle access on campus Sunday in anticipation of thousands gathering to mark the so-called 4/20 cannabis culture holiday.According to a memo sent to faculty and staff Thursday by Executive Vice Chancellor David S. Kliger, UCSC will take numerous measures to block unauthorized vehicles from entering campus and parking, as well as parking along Empire Grade, the 1.2 mile stretch between the main and west gates. Students also will not be allowed to have overnight guests tonight or Saturday. The once student-only gathering to smoke marijuana in UCSC's Porter Meadow is now known nationwide, and has grown to 5,000 strong over the years as word has spread through articles in Rolling Stone and other magazines, as well as Web sites such as Wikipedia and YouTube. The spike in attendance was also closely timed with a vote by Santa Cruz residents in 2006 to make marijuana use a low-priority crime for police. The university reminded students in an e-mail Thursday that it does not condone the gathering, which is named for the day or time of day well-known among regular marijuana users internationally for toking up. The e-mail warned students that using marijuana could land them a police citation and campus judicial write-up. But, UCSC spokesman Barry Shiller said the campus does not intend to ramp up its police presence, and has made no arrests and issued few, if any, student judicial citations for marijuana smoking during past 4/20 events. Still, he said, "The presence of pot and large crowds of people breaking the law is not something we're thrilled about."Keeping students from participating has proven difficult due to the crowd's size, so UCSC has focused on restricting throngs of outsiders through special security and traffic measures. Admittedly, however, Shiller said the campus can do very little about people who walk on to campus outside the gates, though unauthorized people are subject to being thrown out."The increasingly large crowds that have gathered in recent years present safety risks for participants, whether students or people not affiliated with the campus," Kliger wrote. "This activity also violates a number of campus regulations designed to provide for the well-being of our campus and the neighboring community."4/20 Security Measures: • West entrance will be closed to incoming traffic. • Vehicles entering main gate will require a university parking permit or proof of legitimate reason for being on campus. • Parking permits will be required in all campus lots from Friday evening through Monday morning. • Metro buses will only serve the stop adjacent to the main entrance at High and Bay streets. • On-campus shuttles will not run Sunday. • Empire Grade will be designated as a tow-away zone. • Students who live off campus must present a parking permit and photo ID to enter. • Students who live on campus will not be permitted to have overnight guests tonight or Saturday.Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel (CA)Author: J.M. Brown, Sentinel Staff WriterPublished: April 18, 2008Copyright: 2008 Santa Cruz SentinelContact: editorial santa-cruz.comWebsite: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by FoM on April 18, 2008 at 09:35:10 PT nuevo mexican It's good to see you. We didn't feel the earthquake luckily. I watched The Colbert Report this past week and last night was very good. I thought John Edwards was funny too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by nuevo mexican on April 18, 2008 at 07:56:02 PT Hello Obama! and FOM! O/T Did you feel the earthquake?This will make your day! (That was a BAD story from California though)!On Notice - Obama Takes on Distractions http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_colbert_report/ index.jhtmlNow on video: Obama speaks on Bush criminality: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/Now_on_video_ Obama_speaks_on_Bush_criiminality.htmlReady For Change Former Hillary Clinton supporter, Pennsylvanian Susan Petro, became disappointed in the Clinton campaign. This led her to learn about and switch her support to Barack Obama. AND:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgVVgPpTUY0ON Topic! Yeah Barney Frank! Congress acts on bill to decriminalize marijuana http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_ all&address=102x3272539 [ Post Comment ] Post Comment