Slope Day Safety

Don't miss the music!

Cornell's beloved end-of-year celebration is Wednesday, May 8. Here's how to enjoy your day safely!

For everyone:

• Get your Slope Day Wristband & pack light for speedy gate entry.
  Visit slopeday.cornell.edu to find out how to get your wristband (FREE for undergraduate students), as well as rules for gate entry, times, and details about what to bring (and not bring). Wear weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes on Slope Day. Free sunscreen and water will be available inside the gates. 
• Enjoy free BreakFEST in Collegetown.
  In addition to Slope Day breakfast in the dining halls, free breakfast sandwiches, fruit, and water will be available to students in front of the Schwartz Center in Collegetown from 7:30 am to 10:30 am. Stop by with your friends!
• Check out SlopeFEST on Ho Plaza.
  FREE food, drinks, carnival games, and prizes & giveaways will be inside the gates on Ho Plaza. It's worth the hike up the Slope!
• Watch out for others.
  Alcohol or other drug emergency? Injury? Something not quite right? Call 911 for help or flag down a volunteer on the Slope if you see someone in need of help/medical care.

For those drinking alcohol:

The majority of Cornellians drink moderately or not at all ... even on Slope Day. If you do drink alcohol, it’s important to know how to reduce the risk of negative consequences, and what to do in an alcohol emergency.

Remember, you must be 21 to legally drink alcohol. The Campus Code of Conduct applies on every day of the year, and enforcement is stepped up on Slope Day. Know the legal risks of underaged drinking. 

• Beer bracelets are available (for those 21+) with proper ID at the ID tent on the Slope. Visit slopeday.cornell.edu to learn about purchasing a beer bracelet. Beer bracelets can also be used for non-alcoholic ginger beer in the beer line, or they can be used to purchase food.

Reduce the risks:

• Eat breakfast beforehand. Not only does this fuel your energy, but eating helps to absorb alcohol more slowly and safely. Feed yourself and your friends with the great options available before and on the Slope.
• Skip the pregame to avoid mid-day burnout. 
• Set a limit, and pace your drinks (about one per hour). Stick to a buzz to keep your BAC (blood-alcohol concentration) in check.
• Avoid hard alcohol (the cause of nearly all alcohol emergencies), as well as shots, funnels, chugging, and drinking games.
• Stay well-fed throughout the day. Food and drinks are available for FREE at SlopeFest on Ho Plaza beginning at 11:00, and for purchase on the Slope. 
• Drink plenty of water. Free water will be provided on the Slope.

Watch out for your friends: 

• Know the signs of an alcohol or other drug emergency. Alcohol poisoning and drug overdoses can be fatal. 
• Call 911 for help (or flag down a volunteer) if someone is passed out and unresponsive, or vomiting while passed out.
• Don't be afraid to do the right thing. Cornell’s Good Samaritan Protocol and NY State’s Good Samaritan Law protect those who call 911, and those who need assistance, in an alcohol or other drug emergency. 

For those using cannabis / marijuana (gummies, edibles, etc.): 

While consuming too much THC (the intoxicating compound in cannabis) won't be fatal, it can result in distressing symptoms like confusion, paranoia, panic attacks, and mild hallucinations, as well as nausea and vomiting. If you use cannabis ...

Start low: Start with a small amount (no more than 2.5 mg of THC) to see how it will affect you.

And go slow: It takes time to feel the effects. If you're consuming edibles, you may not feel the full effects for 2-4 hours. Wait at least two hours before you take any more.

Learn more on our Cannabis / Marijuana page.

Remember that cannabis use is prohibited on Cornell’s campus. Cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, and all colleges and universities that receive federal funding must follow the federal law. 

For those planning parties:

Expect increased police presence on and around campus, and remember ...

• It's your responsibility to control yourself and your guests.
• It's a Class A misdemeanor to provide alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. Penalties for violation may result in jail term of up to one year and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
• Hard alcohol (more than 30% alcohol by volume) is not permitted in any Greek residential chapter house at any time.
• Overcrowding can lead to problems: blocked exits, a porch collapse, and your yard becoming an "outdoor bathroom facility" (another finable offense).
• Call 911 if your party gets out of control, or if someone is incoherent or passed out and can't be roused.
• Read additional tips for partying without the police.

More information about Slope Day:

Visit slopeday.cornell.edu.