Off-Campus Student Services is launching the Party Registration Program, allowing students to register their parties in order to avoid a noise violation ticket.
A similar program at CSU inspired the Party Registration Program’s creation. After a successful test run last April, the program received approval to continue, said Michelle Willett, the Off-Campus Student Services marketing coordinator.
“It gives you that freebie,” Willett said. “Dispatch can call that you’ve gotten a complaint and you can take care of the situation.”
Since the program officially began on Aug. 16, 11 total parties have registered and only one received a ticket, said Susan Barkman, the community outreach specialist for Off-Campus Student Services.
Students can register a Friday or Saturday night party at the Off-Campus Student Services office in Room 313 in the UMC by noon on Friday, according to the site.
When registering, students must present their student ID, provide the party address and two contact numbers. If the party receives a noise complaint, dispatch will call the contact. Once alerted, the party host will have 20 minutes to shut down the party to avoid a possible $1,000 ticket.
Once registered, Willett said it’s important to know that the program is only for noise complaints and does not cover other violations such as fighting and public urination.
Registration is free and there is no age restriction, Willett said.
“We don’t ask their age,” Willett said.
Despite this, some students say they are still unsure about using the program.
“I’m sketched out,” said Kelly Klein, a 20-year-old sophomore open option major. “I don’t want to tell the school where I’m going to party because I’m not 21 yet. I’d want to see a friend do it and see that it works. Cops scare me.”
Willett said she often reassures apprehensive students, like Klein, that the program does not act as a police informant.
“Right now they are coming in and asking questions, which is great,” Willett said. “They are a little skeptical. They think this is a trick so [the police] can spy on parties and we try to reassure them that their information goes to dispatch and not the police.”
While some students may still be wary about the program, others, like 22-year-old junior economics major Tyler Kirchhof, say they see how registering can be beneficial.
“I guess it’s a good idea, especially for those who have actually gotten in trouble,” Kirchhof said.
Willett said the first time a student registers they will receive a Smart Party bag which contains a six-pack of soda, pretzels, popcorn, trash bags and the Smart Party Guide, which is also available online.
Barkman said CUSG donated $5,000 to fund the program, which will be used mostly to print decks of cards that have a different safety tip on the face value side of the card.
She said she expects the decks to arrive in about a month and that they will be distributed in the Party Safe bags.
Willett said that through the program, she hopes relations between students and the Boulder community will improve.
“Students don’t understand the impact they have on their neighbors,” Willett said. “They assume it’s a college town and it’s not going to matter…at least get to know the neighbors, it’s something [students] should do.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Rose Heaphy at Josephine.heaphy@colorado.edu.
