Important Homecoming information for students

Homecoming on Wilfrid Laurier University’s Waterloo campus takes place Sept. 27-28. Together, let’s welcome our Hawks home to share our purple and gold pride!

Homecoming is a wonderful weekend that offers many sanctioned activities for students and alumni to enjoy. Unfortunately, the rise in unsanctioned street gatherings has led to dangerous behaviour, injuries and sexual assaults. Laurier actively discourages unsanctioned street parties. They are unsafe, and we urge you not participate in them.

Need to Know

• Safety is our top priority. As unsanctioned street parties have grown, the rise in crowd density, coupled with intoxicants, has created the very real possibility that you, paramedics and police may be seriously injured or worse.
• Unsanctioned street gatherings damage Laurier’s reputation and the reputation of our students and graduates. We all want to be proud of the university we attended.
• You will see more Police and Special Constables maintaining safety. Law-enforcement officers will work to disperse any crowds gathering on the street and issue tickets for by-law and provincial violations, including drinking in unlicensed public places. At past unsanctioned events, police laid more than 600 charges.
• Laurier students documented for violating laws or university policies will have the incident addressed through the Non-Academic Student Code of Conduct. Sanctions imposed by the Dean of Students office could range from a meeting or restitution for damages, to suspension or expulsion.
• A new approach by the City of Waterloo means that certain bylaw charges will require you to appear in court and pay a significant fine.
• The City of Waterloo is prohibiting all over-night parking on all city streets on Fri., Sept. 27 and Sun., Sept. 29. Vehicles parked on city streets overnight will be subject to tickets and/or tows.
• No parking on Ezra, Bricker and Clayfield avenues on Sat., Sept. 28. Vehicles will be towed.

Safety and Respect

• Alcohol is a drug; know your limits. At past unsanctioned events, paramedics transported high numbers of people to hospital, with a significant amount in critical or serious condition related to alcohol and substance misuse.
• Arrange a safe way home: use Foot Patrol by calling 519.886.3668 (519.886.FOOT) in Waterloo or 519.751.7875 (519.751.PTRL) in Brantford, call a taxi or use the Friend Walk feature in the SAFEHawk app.
• Think about the impact of your choices. Crowds cause injuries, and unsanctioned street gatherings make it difficult for emergency responders and hospitals to help people elsewhere in the region.
• Doctors also treated patients they couldn’t identify, so for your safety carry your I.D. or have a photo of it on your phone.
• If you see something, say something. If you or a friend needs help, always ask for it. Download the SAFEHawk app or contact Special Constables at 519-885-3333.
• Guests are not allowed in Laurier’s Waterloo campus residence buildings during Homecoming weekend. Students living in the Ezra-Bricker Apartments and Houses (managed by Campus Living Centres) are restricted to one registered guest. Students will only be able to enter their own residences, which will be enforced through wristbands and security personnel.
• Doors to academic buildings will be locked and monitored by security. A OneCard is required to enter, and visibly inebriated students will not be permitted entry.
• Consent: It is necessary to obtain consent for all sexual encounters. Drinking eliminates your ability to give and receive consent – wait until you’re sober. For more information and support resources, visit the Gendered Violence Prevention and Support site or contact Sarah Scanlon, Sexual Violence Response Coordinator at sscanlon@wlu.ca
• Respect: Laurier is known for its great sense of community. We are proud of this reputation — it helps all of our graduates to thrive and prosper after their university years. Please live up to the Golden Hawk reputation and make safe and respectful choices during Homecoming. Please respect the law-enforcement officers who are working to keep you and our community safe. And please respect our neighbours and their homes. They are part of our Laurier community, too.

We urge you to help keep Laurier’s Homecoming Golden. Collectively, let’s ensure that the Laurier story continues to be one of a proud community made up of caring and respectful students.