Dear Rams,
With spring semester halfway done, this time of year brings the excitement of spring break, the stress and anxiety of mid-terms, and the pressure to sign leases and make decisions for next fall. With all of this to balance, I thought it would be a good time to share some tips and resources.
Spring Break and Social Gathering Tips
If you are hosting a party, visit Off Campus Parties for responsible social gathering, party smart, and party registration information. The deadline to register a St. Patrick’s Day party is Thursday, March 14.
If you choose to consume alcohol:
- Make your own drinking choices, drinking only if you want to and sticking with the limit you set for yourself. Be 21 or over to avoid underage drinking issues.
- Know how much alcohol is in your drink, don’t mix alcohol with medications, drugs, or energy drinks, and never leave a drink unattended or accept a drink from someone you don’t know.
- Drink water and eat a snack before, during, and after drinking.
- Make a plan beforehand for how to get home safely. Stay and leave with the same group of friends and designate a driver or utilize safe rides home by downloading the RamRide app for free Lyft codes.
If you choose to use substances:
- Know what is in them. It is not uncommon for drugs to be cut/laced with Fentanyl.
- Consider carrying Narcan in case of an accidental overdose.
- Fentanyl testing strips and Narcan are located at the Health and Medical Center third floor Health Education and Prevention Services office and Mental Health Services waiting area Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. You can also request at https://health.colostate.edu/narcan-and-fentanyl-test-strips-request/.
If you are traveling for spring break, share your plans with a friend or family member and better yet, have a buddy with you. If you are planning a road trip, make sure you have enough sleep to drive, don’t drive impaired, and wear your seatbelt. We wish you safe travels as we continue to mourn the loss of the three UW swimmers who were killed recently in the accident on Highway 287.
Safety Tips
With the weather getting warmer in the spring, doors and windows are often left open or unlocked and we see increased incidents of peeping toms and unwanted visitors entering homes.
Be aware of your surroundings, trust your instincts, report illegal and concerning behavior, and look out for one another. If someone needs help, you can make a difference.
Leasing Tips
Beware of rental scams. Red flags include the landlord refusing to speak with you over the phone or in person, requiring you to sign a lease and pay a security deposit before touring a property, charging you to tour a property, and offering to send you money to help with moving (or other expenses) and asking for you to send back any money you do not use. If you believe a rental posting is a scam, visit Off-Campus Life or Student Legal Services for support.
Student Legal Services also provides Lease Tips and you can sign up for a Lease Review before you sign.
Mental Health and Well-Being
The Spring semester can get pretty rough. Find the support you need with HelpCompass, a new, anonymous crisis navigation tool that helps you connect to the right help in moments of need. HelpCompass is in the crisis resources button in YOU@CSU, which offers resources and personalized tips and tools for everything from your mental and physical health, academics, friendships and finding balance.
Visit student mental health and well-being support resources for additional support.
I wish you a relaxing, safe, and renewing spring break!
Craig Chesson
Dean of Students and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs
Colorado State University