CU’s attempt to steer the students away from the annual 4/20 Norlin Quad event was shot down by the majority of students. Our University spent a great deal of money, approximately $80,000-$150,000, in order to promote a Wyclef Jean concert and help deter the pot smoking extravaganza. Unfortunately, it was recorded that a mere 400 students filled the 11,000 seat arena. In addition, apparently Wyclef signed a contract to not reference marijuana in any form, but broke his promise during his first song: “Something About Mary”.
On the contrary, CU did succeed in turning the smoke out field into a ghost town when the clock hit 4:20. The Quad was drenched with a foul smelling fish fertilizer and zoned off with yellow caution tape earlier that morning. The campus took many other precautions such as BuffOne Card, a student form of identification, checkpoints at every building on campus to ensure that only students were allowed to enter and leave the premise.
Police estimate that about 300 students traveled to the Duane Physics lawn around 4 o’clock where pot smoking most definitely occurred. It is said that about 400 apprehensive bystanders watched from the outskirts. According to the Huffington Post, the police made three arrests for trespassing, issued 11 tickets for trespassing and ticketed one person for marijuana possession.
We have one of the most spectacular campuses in my opinion that should be kept clean and pristine, however, do you think Boulder went too far? Should the money go towards something more beneficial for the students and staff or will it truly keep University of Colorado’s name off top charting party school list? Only time will tell, but for now it looks like Mary Jane has left the building.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at CU Boulder chapter.