Students and staff are unsure of what to expect on CU’s campus this Saturday, April 20. In previous years, namely 2009, 2010 and 2011, students have gathered on Norlin Quad on the 4/20 “holiday” to smoke and protest marijuana’s illegality. However, with Amendment 64 in place and the administration’s closure of campus that will put limitations on who can get close to Norlin Quad, there is an air of uncertainty surrounding how Saturday will play out.
Sophomore physics major Daniel Ellis Schwartz leads a crowd in protest against the university’s handling of 4/20. Will there be the same sort of rebellion from students this year? (CU Independent/James Bradbury File)
Colin Wichman, a communications major who was elected this spring as a representative on the Arts and Sciences Student Government, did not take a stance on whether or not students should be able to smoke on Norlin Quad.
“I didn’t realize until I was into student government that it was a hot topic of debate and tension,” Wichman said. “I think it represents as a whole a bad image for CU, but students will do whatever they want to do, regardless of consequences. It is still a recreational activity. The protection of the people and student should be bigger priority.”
Alex Martin, an engineering student, feels the campus should be open rather than closed on Saturday.
“I think we should stop arguing over it so it isn’t a big deal,” Martin said. “[The administration] should allow our campus to be open to the public.”
As for Amendment 64, Martin feels that it “points out the flaws in the American government.”
Roy Romero, an open option major, feels that the 4/20 events held at CU have given the school a bad image.
“[CU] is an educational institution. Marijuana doesn’t enhance or help others,” Romero said. “I believe it is a day when unmotivated people get together, celebrate and get away from the real world and have an excuse to get high.”
Contact CU Independent Breaking News Editor Alyx Saupe at Alyx.saupe@colorado.edu.
