Venue rules

Attendees will be subject to search upon entering the venue. Confiscated items will not be returned. The university is not responsible for any lost or stolen items. Any items being brought into the venue (including phone cases) will be searched. All medication brought shall be subject to search. Over-the-counter medication must be in their original and properly labeled container and not mixed with any other medication or items. Prescription medication must be clearly labeled with the medication name and authorized user. If you have any questions, please contact eoc@calpoly.edu prior to the event.

There will be a zero-tolerance policy for illegal drug use and possession. Police officers will be working inside and outside of the event, and all narcotics laws will be strictly enforced. Don’t test your luck.

There will be NO: re-entry/Ins & Outs; bare feet (must be wearing appropriate footwear for standing/walking on grass and uneven surfaces); overnight camping or parking; unauthorized vendors; or tailgating

Prohibited items include:

• Bags or purses of any kind
• Cigarettes, E-Cigs, disposable E-Cigs, marijuana, and lighters
• Illegal substances
• Pets (service animals are allowed)
• Weapons of any kind (including pocket-knives, pepper spray, fireworks, etc.)
• Outside food or beverages (including alcohol, snacks, and candy); water bottles or flasks of any kind; and empty containers of any type, as well as containers not containing their original substance (including but not limited to lip balm, deodorant, or lipstick containers)
• Selfie sticks, festival totems, banners, fan signs or large posters, paint pens, permanent markers, and spray paint or other aerosol products/cans
• Balloons, balls, inflatables, frisbees, laser pointers, hula hoops, glow sticks, and projectile objects, devices, or toys
• Professional or dedicated recording devices (including cameras, video cameras, Go Pros, etc.)
• Lawn chairs and shade structures
• Drones, remote-controlled aircraft, toys
• Amplified sound
• Fully covered face paint

General Movement & Access

• Residents are free to come and go from their residential assignments.
• Guest restrictions are in place – no visitors from other residential communities or off-campus guests are allowed inside residence halls or apartments.
• University Housing will check IDs at building entrances to confirm residency throughout the weekend.

Transportation & Drop-Offs

• Students can take Uber/Lyft to leave campus – there are designated drop-off and pick-up locations around the campus footprint.
• No vehicle access to Poly Canyon Village (PCV) or Cerro Vista (CV) – personal vehicles and rideshare services (Uber, Lyft) will not be allowed to drive into these areas.
• Uber Eats and other food delivery services are allowed through to PCV and CV.

Security & Safety Measures 

• Additional security measures are in place to ensure student safety and protect university property.
• Cal Poly Police Department (CPPD) has increased its presence where and when needed.
• These measures are a response to past incidents and are meant to prevent vandalism and disruption to campus facilities.

Study & Socializing Options

• No exceptions will be made for visitor restrictions – students may not enter residential buildings where they do not reside.
• Students can meet friends outside or in designated communal spaces.
• Study spaces remain open – the library, academic buildings, and study lounges are available for students preparing for finals.

Parking & Access Information for March 15, 2025 Common Final 

• Campus Access & Parking
  • Community members participating in the common final on March 15, 2025, will have access to campus and parking. If you encounter a road closure, inform the parking officer that you are attending a final, and they will allow you through.
• Recommended Parking Lots:
  • H4 Staff Parking Lots
  • C Lots around California Blvd
• Closed Parking Lots:
  • A-1 (by the Administration Building)
  • G-2 (by Doerr Field)
  • H-12 (by the Rec Fields)
• Plan Ahead
  • Due to road closures and heavy pedestrian traffic, please arrive at least one hour early to ensure ample time for parking and reaching your final exam location.
• Public Transportation
  • Transit services will continue to operate as scheduled. Please check with your provider for any potential delays and plan accordingly to ensure timely arrival.

Jan. 24: University Housing Shares Heads Up on St. Patrick's Day

Residents,

As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, Cal Poly and the City of San Luis Obispo are working together to make sure it’s a safe and responsible time for everyone. Here’s what you need to know:

• Guest Policy (March 13-18): No guests allowed in University Housing during this time. Only residents can enter their assigned buildings, and we’ll be checking IDs to make sure we’re keeping our communities for residents only.
• Quiet Hours: Quiet hours will be strictly enforced — Sunday to Thursday (11 p.m. to 8 a.m.) and Friday to Saturday (1 a.m. to 10 a.m.). Expect staff, student leaders, and uniformed personnel walking around residential areas to make sure things stay quiet.
• Safety & Fines: Be mindful of behavior that impacts the safety and well-being of our communities and residents. University Housing damage charges will be doubled during this period.

Violations of campus and housing policy will be reported to Cal Poly’s Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities and will be addressed through the student conduct process. 

We encourage study breaks as a way to recharge in ways that are safe and respectful, and also support you in finishing the quarter strong.

Univerisity Housing, Cal Poly

Feb. 5: Housing Scoop Newsletter to Campus Residents

St. Patrick’s Day policies in effect March 13-18.

Guest Policy: No guests allowed in University Housing. Only residents can enter their assigned buildings.
Quiet Hours: Quiet hours will be strictly enforced — expect staff, student leaders, and uniformed personnel walking buildings to make sure things stay quiet.
Safety & Fines: University Housing damage charges will be doubled.

Learn more at Cal Poly's St. Patrick's Day webpage. 

Read the Housing Scoop newsletter.

Feb. 17: Important St. Patrick's Day Reminders from the Dean of Students

Dear Students,

I’m writing to give you a heads up on the university’s plans for St. Patrick’s Day and to remind you of our community expectations and the importance of making safe, responsible choices. You are responsible for knowing what is expected of you, regardless of whether you read this email, or any other correspondence sent your way.

While many of you may celebrate, please understand that disruptive or unsafe behavior can result in serious consequences, including arrest and university conduct action. Simply put — don’t test your luck. It’s not worth the fine or the headache.

TLDR: Visit the Dean of Students website for all you need to know about St. Patrick’s Day.

 Visit the Dean of Students Website

No Guests in University Housing
To support a safe and respectful living environment, no guests will be allowed in Cal Poly residence halls from 8 p.m. Thursday, March 13, to 8 a.m. Tuesday, March 18. This applies to all outside visitors and students from other on-campus housing communities. Be prepared to show your student ID for entry. 

No overnight guest parking permits will be available, and access to campus, including residence halls, will be restricted.

City Safety Enhancement Zone
If you live off campus, be aware that the city of San Luis Obispo will enforce a Safety Enhancement Zone from March 7-10 and again from March 14-18, doubling fines for violations such as noise disturbances, unruly gatherings and public intoxication. Fines start at $700, with unruly gathering citations beginning at $1,000.

Additionally, University Housing damage charges will be doubled. 

San Luis Obispo police will report all student arrests and citations to Cal Poly for student conduct review.

Road Closures and Parking Restrictions
From 10 p.m. Friday, March 14, through 6 a.m. Sunday, March 16, the following roads will be closed:

• Grand Avenue at Pacheco Way.
• Village Drive at Perimeter Road.
• Village Drive at Via Carta.

No overnight parking will be allowed (campus residents can still park in their designated lot). No visitor parking permits will be sold from 10 p.m. Thursday, March 13, through 7 a.m. Monday, March 17. If you or your guests plan to park on or near campus, make sure to review these restrictions in advance. There will be designated parking for the music festival.
 

Student Conduct Accountability
We want to be clear — these policies are in place for your safety and the well-being of our community. There will be increased security on campus and a heightened police presence in neighboring off-campus areas. If you choose to disregard the law and university policies and are referred to OSRR for a conduct violation, common excuses will not exempt you from responsibility:

• “My friends booked travel months ago.” You had ample notice to reschedule.
• “They weren’t visiting for St. Patrick’s Day.” The no-guest policy applies regardless.
• “Everyone else was doing it.” Not everyone participates, and harmful traditions end now — consider joining the special event aimed at creating new traditions.

Violating the code of conduct, such as possession of alcohol or drugs, public intoxication, or causing damage to university property, could result in sanctions. These include restitution, disciplinary probation, suspension or more.

Music Festival on Campus
Consider attending Morning on the Green — A Mustang Music Festival, hosted by the university, from 4-9 a.m. Saturday, March 15 at the Sports Complex Lower Fields. It will be open to anyone 18 and older, but a Cal Poly student will need to claim tickets. More information will be posted online as it’s available.

Making Safe Choices
We recognize that celebrations look different for everyone. If you choose to participate in St. Patrick’s Day festivities, make safety your priority:

• Respect Your Community: Keep gatherings small, manage noise and clean up.
• Be an Upstander: Step in or call for help if a situation doesn’t seem right.
• Use Campus Safety Resources:
• Rave Guardian App connects you with Cal Poly Police and Mustang Patrol.
  • Mustang Patrol offers safety walks (Thursdays from 7-11 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 8 p.m.-2 a.m.). Call 805-756-2281.
  • Mustang Shuttle runs daily with evening service 7 p.m.-12:30 a.m. 
  • A Safe Observation Space (SOS) sobering center will be open on campus March 15. Visit the Dean of Students website for details.

Additional Safety Tips
Whether you’re celebrating or not, looking out for yourself and your fellow Mustangs is always important. Keep these key tips in mind:

• Plan ahead for safe transportation.
• Stay with friends and never leave a drink unattended.
• Stay hydrated, eat, and pace yourself.

Finally, many of your peers will spend this weekend preparing for finals or celebrating in low-key ways. I encourage you to share this message with a parent or supporter so they can help you make informed decisions. Additional information can be found on the Dean of Students website.
 
Stay safe, look out for one another, and make choices you’ll be proud of. Wishing you a safe and healthy St. Patrick’s Day.

Sincerely, 

David Groom, Ph.D.
Interim Dean of Students

March 10: St. Patrick's Day Message from President Armstrong to Campus Community

Dear Cal Poly Community,

As another St. Patrick’s Day approaches, we wanted to talk to you about the need for a change in the culture of how our community marks this holiday and ask that each of you keep your own well-being and that of your friends and neighbors top of mind.

First, we want to be clear that past St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on and near our campus have gotten out of hand. Some individuals have taken part in behaviors such as vandalism and theft, destruction of property on- and off-campus, and activities that have caused injury and endangered their own well-being and that of others around them.

We know that some of this activity has been done by visitors to our area, and even by some local residents, who have no connection to Cal Poly. We also know that some of our own students have taken part.

Quite simply, the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations that our community has seen in the past few years have been unsafe, and continued celebrations along these lines are not OK. Our campus community must lead the way in changing how we celebrate.

Part of our message to all students today is to remind you that any activities violating the law or university policy around the holiday will have serious consequences — and that you should not test your luck this St. Patrick’s Day.

Another part of our message is to encourage you to embrace celebration that is safer and healthier for everyone, if you choose to celebrate, including encouraging attendance at Morning On the Green — A Mustang Music Festival on March 15.

First, let’s address policies and enforcement.

Because we know that visitors to the area have played a part in past years’ problems, we have implemented several changes on campus. Guests will not be allowed in University Housing between March 13–18, and entry to University Housing facilities will be restricted to front entrances, where student IDs will be checked for entry. If you don’t live here, you won’t be allowed in; this is true even of enrolled students trying to stay in an on-campus facility that is not their residence. All guests will be required to leave — and any Cal Poly student found to have a guest during this period will be held accountable.

No student guest parking permits will be sold during this time. Staffing and patrols, including by Cal Poly Police, within University Housing will be increased, and quiet hours will be strictly enforced. Costs for any damages to University Housing facilities will be doubled. And all violations of campus and University Housing policies will be referred to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

Police — including officers from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and other agencies — will be out in force around the holiday and will hold individuals accountable for their actions. As well, San Luis Obispo Police will alert the university to all activities resulting in citations or arrests, and those matters will be referred to OSRR for student conduct investigations.

You should also be aware that the city’s Safety Enhancement Zone is in place during early March, meaning that in addition to the increased police presence, fines are doubled for noise, unruly gathering, public urination, and open container. More information about the city’s efforts is available on the Respect SLO website.

We understand the desire to celebrate, and we are not asking our campus community members to refrain. However, we are asking that if you celebrate, you do so in a manner that is safe for you and those around you and respectful of all community members on and off campus.

We also hope that for many of you, this means celebrating at Morning On the Green — A Mustang Music Festival the morning of March 15. Tickets for the event have all been claimed. However, a standby line will be available at the venue. Those in line will be admitted starting at 6 a.m., based on availability of tickets from no-shows. Please note that admission is not guaranteed and will depend on remaining capacity. 

Tickets and other details about Morning On the Green — along with all the information you need to know about other events and programming, safe celebration, and university and city responses and enforcement around St. Patrick’s Day — are available on the Dean of Students’ website.

We know that you have likely received other communications about this in recent days and weeks. That you are hearing from us again underscores the importance of topic. Your behavior can impact not only you but also those around you. Likewise, your actions reflect not only on you but on our entire university community. We are asking each of you to be respectful of our community and to help change the culture of St. Patrick’s Day in San Luis Obispo.



Jeffrey D. Armstrong

President, Cal Poly



Ashleigh J. Spragins

President, Cal Poly ASI

March 11: St. Patrick's Day Safety Enforcement Press Release from County of San Luis Obispo

The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with the City of San Luis Obispo Police Department, strongly encourages students, visitors, and residents to enjoy Saint Partick’s Day celebrations responsibly, particularly on and around the Cal Poly campus. Criminal law violations will be pursued in compliance with our mission to “bring justice and safety to our community by aggressively and fairly prosecuting crime and protecting the rights of crime victims.”
 
The City of San Luis Obispo has instituted a “safety enhancement zone” during which all laws will be strictly enforced within the city and fines will be doubled.  The street parties that have occurred over the last several years will not be allowed.
 
Similarly, the District Attorney’s Office will not offer our pre-filing Misdemeanor Diversion Program to individuals who are alleged to have committed a crime stemming from the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations during the City of San Luis Obispo’s safety enhancement zone between the dates of: March 14, 2025 through March 18, 2025.
 
The City of San Luis Obispo safety enhancement zone will take place between March 14-18, as described here in the City of San Luis Obispo’s media release.
 
Participants should note that all fines will be doubled during public safety zone times and any related misdemeanor violations will not be eligible for the District Attorney’s misdemeanor diversion program.
 
For more information about the safety enhancement zone, visit www.respectslo.com.
Together, we can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in a way that ensures the safety of both participants and property.
 
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For the full press release, visit our website: slocounty.ca.gov/DA