Celebrate your way: Finishing the year and graduating
Wrapping up the academic year is a big deal. Whether you鈥檙e getting ready for graduation, sticking around 抖阴传媒在线 for a bit or just enjoying that 鈥渃lasses are done鈥 feeling, this is your time to celebrate in ways that feel good to you (and to do it responsibly).
听听Make it meaningful听
Not every celebration has to be big or loud to count. With thousands of students celebrating at the same time, it鈥檚 easy to feel pressure to do a lot. Smaller celebrations often mean less stress, more connection and fewer things to manage. Focus on the people you genuinely want around you as you close out the year.听
Ideas to keep it personal:听
- Grab brunch or dinner at your favorite local spot with friends or family.听
- Take a short road trip or go camping with friends (you can rent gear from the Rec Center).听
- Visit your favorite places on campus or around 抖阴传媒在线 one last time.听
- Recreate memories鈥攑hotos, walks, routines鈥攜ou鈥檒l want to remember later.听
Hosting a gathering off campus? Register your party with Off-Campus Life. It can help reduce the risk of noise complaints, tickets and other issues.听
听听Plan ahead and look out for each other听
Celebrations tend to go more smoothly when everyone is on the same page鈥攅specially if alcohol or other substances are involved.听
Before you head out:听
- Choose your people. Spend time with friends or family who respect your boundaries and will check in on you.听
- Agree on a plan. Talk through where you鈥檙e going, how long you鈥檒l stay and how you鈥檒l get home.听
- Stay connected. Start a group chat and share locations or addresses if you split up.听
During the celebration:听
- Set limits and stick to them. Decide ahead of time how much (if at all) you want to drink or use substances.听
- Watch for changes and encourage water, food or a break. Looking out for each other also goes beyond substance use鈥攊f something feels off, it probably is.听听
- Hydrate often. Warm weather and alcohol don鈥檛 mix well鈥攁lternate with non-alcoholic drinks.听
Getting home:听
- Stick together and leave together.听
- Don鈥檛 leave someone behind, even if they want to stay.听
- Use safer options to get home like CU NightRide, rideshares or a sober driver.听
Check out more tips for partying smarter.听听
听听Know when to get help听
If you or your friends decide to drink or use other substances during celebrations or parties, be prepared to act.听
Signs of alcohol poisoning or overdose include:听
- Unconsciousness or not responding听
- Slow or irregular breathing听
- Vomiting while passed out听
- Pale, bluish or clammy skin听
- Gurgling or heavy snoring sounds听
- Very small pupils听
What to do:听
- Call 911 right away听
- Use naloxone if you have it (it won鈥檛 hurt someone if opioids aren鈥檛 involved)听
- Put the person in the 听
- Stay with them鈥攄on鈥檛 leave them alone听
Free and discounted naloxone is available on campus, and at other locations in 抖阴传媒在线 and Broomfield counties. Free fentanyl test strips are also available at Health Promotion on the third floor of Wardenburg.听听
颁鲍鈥檚 Amnesty Policy and Colorado鈥檚 can protect you from disciplinary action or prosecution if you call for help and stay with the person.听
听听Be a good neighbor听
Celebrating outdoors or heading to a gathering? Help keep our campus and 抖阴传媒在线 a place we all enjoy.听
- Bring trash and recycling bags if you鈥檙e hosting or hanging out in a park.听
- Pack out everything you bring.听
- Keep noise levels down, whether you鈥檙e at a gathering or walking through neighborhoods.听
- Don鈥檛 set off fireworks鈥fireworks are illegal in 抖阴传媒在线.听听
- Clean up glass, cans and food waste before you leave.听
Taking care of shared spaces makes celebrations safer, reduces harm to wildlife and helps prevent fines.听