Don’t risk ruining your future. This year, skip the St. Fratty’s Day street party | Opinion

On an otherwise unremarkable March morning in a quiet SLO neighborhood, clear signs of a large and illegal street party just hours before remained visible to both student and non-student neighbors, driving frustrations and significant safety concerns.

For those planning to once again attend this dangerous event this year, we want to be clear: What may have once seemed like a fun or harmless tradition over the years has become a dangerous and disruptive habit, with real consequences for both individuals and the community.

Participating in these large and unsanctioned gatherings isn’t just a poor decision — it’s one that could lead to injury, legal consequences and a serious setback in your college experience. The San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly police departments are prepared to address this event with maximum resources to ensure safety and enforce the law, so the best choice is to skip the street party altogether.

Cal Poly is not only one of the finest universities in California, but is also nationally recognized for its exceptional students, faculty and athletes.

Cal Poly is a driving force in the cultural and economic vitality of San Luis Obispo, infusing the city with youthful energy and innovation. So, how is it that on one day each year, thousands of students — many of whom aren’t even from the area — turn the streets into a chaotic scene, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in a manner that disregards the safety and well-being of their peers and the broader community?

This behavior is not who we are, nor does it reflect the caliber of other students dedicated to growth and learning here in SLO. Your police departments support students in having the best college experience possible. College should be a time of making memories, growing as individuals and learning to be responsible community members and neighbors.

But part of that journey is recognizing that our actions have consequences. The goal is to graduate with a great education and lasting, positive memories — not with a criminal record, costly fines and citations and a history of poor decisions that follows you for years to come.

In past years, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations have led to significant safety concerns, including injuries, alcohol poisoning and falls from utility poles. Unsanctioned events like these create chaos that overwhelms emergency responders and places everyone in harm’s way. By blocking streets and creating safety issues, these gatherings complicate efforts to help those who need it most.

Looking ahead, we urge students to denounce unsanctioned street parties and instead take part in the many fun, organized activities at Cal Poly and in downtown San Luis Obispo. Let’s come together as a community and show that we can celebrate responsibly while respecting our peers and neighbors. This year, let’s make a change.

The street party is over; don’t make the trip — it’s not worth your time or your future.

Rick Scott is chief of police for the city of San Luis Obispo and Bryan Cox is interim chief of police for California Polytechnic State University.

This story was originally published March 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM.