CU students prepare for a safe spring break

It’s the time of year where CU students are finding themselves daydreaming about shredding the slopes or lounging on the sand in the tropical sun.

Spring break is less than a week away and the university wants to make sure students are going to remember to be safe while enjoying their time off.

Whether students are traveling internationally or going home to be with family and friends, Karen Raforth, interim dean of students and associate vice chancellor of student affairs, wants to remind CU students that they need to make wise choices.

“I encourage you to practice the same safety protocols you follow in Boulder,” Raforth said. “Travel in groups, look out for your friends, keep hydrated, know your limits and comply with the law.”

Freshman MCDB major Nathan Anderson, 18, tosses a frisbee on Farrand Field on March 9. The warm weather attracted many people to Farrand who did everything from sit and read to play soccer. (CU Independent/Robert R. Denton)

For Rachel Bloch, a 19-year-old sophomore business major, spring break is time to visit her family in Los Angeles. Even off-campus, Bloch makes an effort to make smart decisions.

“I’ve been in trouble here at school and I plan on staying out of that kind of thing back at home with my family,” Bloch said.

Nora Covington, a 21-year-old art history major, is planning a trip to Las Vegas. Because Covington is now of legal drinking age, she said she is planning to follow a different set of precautions.

“I am definitely going to have to know and stay within my limits and stay out of any illegal activities in Vegas,” Covington said.

Lauren Naro, a 20-year-old psychology major, is going with some friends to visit San Diego over break. Naro said she is unfamiliar with the area but has a plan to keep herself safe in unfamiliar territory.

“I’m not going to be drinking too much but mainly I know I have to stay with my friends,” Naro said. “I don’t know the area very well so I can’t be going anywhere alone.”

For those students heading to the mountains to catch some end-of-the-season skiing, Raforth advises checking the mountain advisories before getting on the lifts.

“This winter, the high country has experienced more avalanches than normal,” Raforth said. “Be especially careful and check your specific site for advisories before you go as well as road conditions, and take winter survival kits in your car.”

The main thing to remember is that the CU Student Code of Conduct does follow students, even when they’re not on campus. This means any trouble students may get into over break will eventually get back to the university, potentially affecting their record.

“We want our students to have a great break, but also want to remind them to be safe and look out for one another wherever they are during spring break,” Raforth said.

Matt Tomatz, counselor and substance abuse coordinator for Counseling and Psychological Services, leaves students with advice for being safe in these situations. Tomatz advises students who plan on drinking over break to remember to follow the same precautions they practice here on campus.

“I always encourage students to step back and consider their use of alcohol prior to drinking,” Tomatz said. “Students will benefit from predetermining how many drinks they will consume before going out. I also encourage students to eat before they drink, drink water, and slow the pace of drinking.”

For more information on how to stay safe over break, click here.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Megan Moran at Megan.j.moran@colorado.edu.