USG Takes Action on UConn Spring Weekend

The Undergraduate Student Government voted on a statement of position regarding Spring Weekend on Wednesday night. Although the statement did not definitively oppose or support Spring Weekend as a whole, the USG resolved to work on making the event safer for the student body.

USG President Thomas Haggerty said that he believed it was impossible for the USG to take a broad stance either for or against Spring Weekend, given the complexities surrounding the event. He said that many students dislike the violence and off-campus parties, but still enjoy the university-sponsored events and camaraderie of the weekend.

“There are things we can’t stand about this event. There are things we love,” Haggerty said, adding that the adopted statement accurately represents the USG’s feelings on the issue.

The statement was drafted after the USG hosted five student forums and received thousands of email survey responses. Haggerty reported that there were, of course, varying opinions on the event, but that safety was the number one concern for students.

“We need your help,” Haggerty said, summarizing the general tone of the responses. “We don’t feel safe.”

The legislation was passed after almost two hours of heated debate. Haggerty opened the discussion and stressed the importance of the USG’s decision.

“I think this is the most important piece of legislation you’ll pass tonight, this semester and perhaps during your USG career,” Haggerty said, before the floor was given over to the senators.

The legislation, meant to act as a guide to the USG for years to come, does not take a formal position on the event. The listed resolutions include efforts to ensure student safety, ban non-UConn guests from the dorms and generally restrict non-student participants so that students can celebrate the event safely.

While the senators generally agreed that the sheer number of Spring Weekend participants and guests should be limited to improve safety, some were concerned that banning students from having guests violates student rights.

Haggerty addressed those arguments, saying that it is necessary for safety reasons to control the number of participants, particularly non-students who account for a disproportionate number of arrests and injuries during the event. USG Vice President Clive Richards said that banning guests would take a toll on students, but was probably necessary.

“It’s better that we make some sacrifice now, in an effort to save the event in the future,” Richards said.

Eventually, the USG voted to make the ban temporary and to reassess its usefulness next year.

The statement also includes , specifically during Spring Weekend. Haggerty said that such an event would educate students about the consequences of Spring Weekend.

“Students don’t understand the complexities of Spring Weekend financially and the harmful reputation it brings to the university,” Haggerty said.

Haggerty went on to say that he believes a Spring Weekend Metanoia would be more effective than the , which he said would do little to solve the problems around the weekend.

The statement goes on to condemn the Spring Weekend Task Force cancellation of university-sponsored events, admonishing the administration for taking away events that provide safe environments for students. Comptroller Brien Buckman spoke out against the cancellations.

“This is not a solution. We’re going to cancel the one environment we can make safe. It doesn’t make sense,” Buckman said. He also suggested that the university should invest more in sponsored events to create safe, accessible environments that were under university control.

Now that the USG has adopted the legislation, it is clear that the senators are ready and eager to take action. Senator Salvatore Sodaro perhaps best summed up the USG’s new role in the event,  “Spring Weekend is going to happen. What matters is what we do to make it safe.”

The next USG meeting will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Student Union.