I hope this message finds you doing well as we approach fall mid-terms. One of my roles as AVC of Auxiliary Services is to provide you with information that helps you to make safe choices. I hope you find the information below of use as you plan how and where to spend your time on Halloween this year.
On behalf of the University and the City of Santa Cruz, I encourage you to avoid downtown Santa Cruz on Halloween night by instead choosing to come to or remain on campus and participating in one or more of the many programs offered throughout our college and residential communities. Please see this web page for a listing of programs being hosted on campus.
In past years on Halloween, the downtown has been marred by incidents of violence including stabbings. The City of Santa Cruz has been very clear that there is a zero tolerance policy for those who disrupt the safety of the community — and they are concerned for community members who may unintentionally become victims of violence.
If, however, you choose to go downtown, please be advised:
• UCSC will operate Night Owl buses on a "weekend" schedule departing from downtown Santa Cruz approximately every 20 minutes from 11:45 p.m. until 2:50 a.m. Halloween night.
• Bus services from the downtown area may be limited and you may find yourself walking back up to campus. Should you have to walk back to campus, please remember to be good neighbors (i.e., respect the city noise ordinance, traffic laws and the property of others). Try to walk home with others as it can be very dark along several sections of the walk back to campus.
• Be advised that the downtown area has been designated a "triple fine" area on Halloween for violations of city ordinances. Should you be involved in any incident for which you are cited by the City of Santa Cruz Police, you will also be referred to Student Judicial Affairs for possible University judicial action.
In addition to the above, the City of Santa Cruz Police Department has asked the University to share the following with UCSC students:
"If you are planning to come to downtown Santa Cruz on Halloween night, we ask that you have fun and behave responsibly. With the well-being of our residents and visitors in mind, the City has concentrated resources downtown to promote a safe environment that everyone can enjoy. This includes over 100 law enforcement officers from 9 agencies patrolling the downtown corridor and triple fines for certain violations of the Municipal Code. Triple fines and court costs make an alcoholic open container violation total $480, and littering almost $300."
For your reference, please see the Santa Cruz city web site and triple fine information.
I hope that you have a fun and safe time this Halloween.
