CU Boulder on what to expect if you host or attend a party
On Thursday, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Akirah J. Bradley, addressed the CU Boulder student body in an administrative eMemo, specifically students choosing to disregard health and safety guidelines.
“This reckless behavior is putting the campus experience and everyone’s health at risk,” Bradley wrote. “Therefore, I want to make sure you are aware of the potential impacts to your educational experience.”
The memo outlines new violations and sanctions if students are caught hosting or attending a party or large gathering on- or off-campus that violates a public health order.
“If you violate a public health order and the violation is connected to attending a party, you will be excluded from campus for at least two weeks and you may be suspended. Multiple violations will result in suspension, which means you’ll be automatically withdrawn from classes and barred from access to campus resources,” according to the memo.
A party constitutes a gathering of 10 or more people who do not share a household. These gatherings are prohibited statewide by the Public Health Order 20-28, also known as “Safer at Home in the Vast, Great Outdoors.”
Students will have the option to go through an appeal process. Students committing multiple or severe violations will result in suspension from CU Boulder for a minimum of one semester.
According to the COVID-19-ready dashboard that the university activated earlier this month, nine new cases were found during the week of August 24. This is in addition to the 16 tests that came back positive over the previous week, which was freshmen move-in. On-campus residents will now be tested weekly in compliance with updated policies that school officials announced on the first day of class. 
From an online poll conducted by The Bold, several undergraduate students shared their opinions on this memo. For senior Kevin Ruby, the memo is a step in the right direction.
“People following regulations don’t deserve to be at risk because their classmates chose to party,” Ruby said. “They could even be stricter.”
Another student, who wishes to remain anonymous, had a different outlook, questioning, “Why’d they invite us back to campus? They knew kids would party. Whole semester is a cash grab with a pathetic illusion of safety.”
CU Boulder students, regardless of living on- or off-campus, are expected to abide by city, county, state and university public health guidelines, wrote Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Media Relations Candace Smith in an email to The Bold.
“Being a Buff means looking out for each other,” Bradley wrote. “And that includes making decisions that help prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
