The Daily Campus

Issue date: 2/20/09 Section: Commentary

Every year there is more and more talk from the UConn administration about tightening restrictions on Spring Weekend festivities, if not shutting it down completely. The administration started implementing more restrictions for safety purposes after the 2004 riots. Just about all the students on this campus were not here in 2004, and so may not know how out of control Spring Weekend really was back then - flipped cars, couch fires, etc. Students should be thankful that so much time and effort has been put into trying to keep our favorite weekend of the year enjoyable, while still protecting us and our campus. However, students rightfully view the administration's plans with such skepticism because we have not seen much effectiveness when these policies are put into practice.

The biggest problem of Spring Weekend is not the actions of UConn students, but of non-students who come from all over Connecticut and beyond to crash our party. They do not have to worry about facing repercussions from the university, including loss of housing and graduation priveliges and even expulsion. Non-students just need to do their best to hide from the cops, which is really not that difficult.

The best thing UConn could do for Spring Weekend is to implement more ways to keep out the non-students. However, we should all realize that this is much harder than it sounds.

On-campus residents have no doubt witnessed the great lengths to which ResLife goes to keep out visitors. Each student was allowed two guests, who both had to fill out guest ID's to keep with them all weekend. Upon entering the building for the night, the student and guest ID's had to be presented or you were not permitted to enter. Also, CA's watched all the other doors to make sure no one was sneaking in. This whole practice encouraged students to choose their guests wisely and limited crowded dorm rooms.

ResLife should be commended for this system. While students may view this as upsetting because their five friends from high school cannot come visit, it helps reduce destruction for the weekend. This system to should be expanded to include every residence on campus - even the apartments.

Another idea that the administration put into operation was the wristbands. However, they ended up being worthless for anything besides school spirit and a guaranteed trip to the hospital if injured. This year, the university should create a similar system that allows for easy identification of students from non-students, and allows the police to differentiate between guests of students and unwelcome guests.

In addition, it should be stressed, and required, that all students carry their IDs on them at all times.

While these ideas will not stop every unwelcomed non-student, they will do a considerable amount toward keeping UConn safe. Also, every idea put into practice will have its flaws - when should CAs start checking guests in? When can roadblocks be put up? Will underage students be targeted for drinking because they have to show IDs? However, the administration needs to do something; students and guests still think - know - that they can still get away with anything on Spring Weekend.

Until UConn makes some serious and practical rules that do not crush the activities all together, Spring Weekend will just continue to be dangerous and put students and our campus at risk.

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