Alcohol-related citations drop since past Unofficials
By Karen Liu, News Editor
February 28, 2019
Alcohol-related citations on Unofficial saw a huge fall last year, dropping from 113 in 2017 to 57 in 2018. These Notices to Appear are not bar citations. While these could be issued for a variety of reasons, the vast majority are for public possession of alcohol or minor in possession of alcohol, ...
Blackouts present unintended consequences
By YooJin Son and Therese Pokorney
February 28, 2019
Without taking caution to your alcohol limit, a few drinks could turn the celebration of Unofficial into a terrible memory. Catharine Fairbairn, assistant professor in LAS, said the social factor of events like Unofficial can increase the likelihood of drinking over the alcohol limit. “A lot of people d...
Student safety is a priority for police
By Samantha Boyle and Gillian Dunlop
February 28, 2019
The medical amnesty policy is a state and University rule that keeps underaged drinkers from getting a ticket or getting in trouble if they were to call 911. This could become an important policy to remember during Unofficial. “Let’s say you call 911 and you’ve had a few beers. You’re not going to get...
Business as usual for campus bars on Unofficial
By Jose Zepeda, Assistant Daytime News Editor
February 28, 2019
Bars and liquor stores in close proximity to the University will have modified service during Unofficial weekend, after both Champaign and Urbana issued emergency orders. For Champaign bars, no one under 21 is allowed to enter the bars from 10 a.m. Friday to 2:30 a.m. Sunday. For Urbana bars, no on...
Companies caution against unsafe transport
By Olivia Welshans, Staff Writer
February 28, 2019
Community transportation companies and safety organizations are preparing for Unofficial weekend and potential safety hazards related to the festivities. Amy Snyder, customer service director at the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, said they always send out a bulletin to bus operators and supe...
How to ensure the best weekend of the semester doesn’t turn into the worst day of your life
By Melissa Niemiec, Staff Writer
March 2, 2018
To some, “tips to being safe” fits with Unofficial about as well as a square peg fits in a round hole. On a weekend when you’re supposed to be wild, drink unceasingly and raise hell, safety can sound awfully boring. So don’t think about it like taking safety precautions. Think about it like you...
The Chief is gone, retire its Unofficial apparel
By Zack Fishman, Contributing Writer
March 2, 2018
A bright green tee displaying Chief Illiniwek with his headdress replaced with the letters “U-N-O-F-F-I-C-I-A-L” has become a common sight in the days leading up to the University’s infamous drinking holiday. Whether displayed in T-shirt stores or touted by anticipating students, Unofficial merchandise...
Moving from drunk to drastic: alcohol poisoning and you
By Yoav Margalit, Staff Writer
March 2, 2018
A day that’s all about drinking: it's a marathon, not a sprint. Days like Unofficial are for forgetting about everything and partying like there’s no tomorrow. That’s a great idea, until suddenly there’s a consequence. That’s when the fun stops. So here are a few symptoms for recognizing alcohol...
Frequently asked questions about Unofficial
By Arden Youn, Staff Writer
March 1, 2018
What is it? By this time of year, most of campus, even out-of-state freshmen, have a pretty good idea of what it is. Unofficial is said to have originated in 1995, and it is essentially an alternate St. Patrick’s Day on the University of Illinois campus. Because St. Patrick's Day falls during spring break...
Bring the luck, then go drinking
By Yifan Gu, Staff Writer
March 1, 2018
Drinking-related trouble can be upsetting, not to mention embarrassing, for everyone. However, such misfortunes can also be meaningful shared memories. I still remember one awkward time when my friends and I were not allowed into a bar and I must admit, I’m still confused as to the reasons why. Last...
Is Unofficial really worth the risk?
By Ashley Rayan, Staff Writer
March 1, 2018
As a wide-eyed freshman, I had long heard stories about the incredible day-drinking festival known as Unofficial. Students live for it, teachers abhor it and the administration is on a mission to get rid of it. I remember hearing about Unofficial from former UI students, as they described skipping c...
Unofficial: 22 years too long
By Julie Kang, Staff Writer
March 1, 2018
Unofficial is famous — or maybe notorious — for being a day full of partying and binge-drinking in celebration of a premature St. Patrick’s Day. Despite past accidents and the endless number of tickets given out on the day, the made-up holiday continues to be one of the University’s biggest t...
