For the first time in 50 years, California State University, Stanislaus students will not be celebrating Warrior Day.
After Tuesday night’s board meeting, Associated Students Inc. (ASI) came to the final decision to cancel the yearly celebratory event.
“The CSU Stanislaus Associated Students is forced to announce the cancellation of the current year’s Warrior Day scheduled for May 11, 2012,” CSU Stanislaus ASI board members mentioned in a press release addressing the cancellation.
ASI’s decision to cancel this year’s event was the result of concerns raised by the Office of Student Affairs in regards to alcohol consumption and related safety issues.
Vice President for Enrollment and Student Affairs, Dr. Suzanne Espinoza, who holds the authority in denying or approving the request for alcohol beverages, did not approve alcohol to be sold at this year’s event.
“…I must deny the ASI’s request to sell alcohol at Warrior Day,” said Espinoza in a letter to ASI President Mehran Khodabandeh (senior, Political Science).
Espinoza highlights problems that are a result of Warrior Day, such as the enabling of binge drinking, increased security, underage drinking, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, health issues, sexual assaults and domestic violence.  
“Warrior Day poses an imminent threat to the health and safety of students and surrounding community… the evidence of increased alcohol abuse and infractions of law is undisputed,” Espinoza said.
According to Khodabandeh, the “statistics are stacked against ASI” because any alcohol-related crimes that happen either three hours before or after Warrior Day are associated with the event.
In an effort to combat these alcohol-related crimes and promote responsible drinking, ASI was given the task to create a plan for prevention.
The board was given 35 days to successfully change the mindset of a 50-year tradition, according to Khodabandeh.
Denying the sale of alcohol was given on March 23, 2012. ASI was expected to produce a response by March 26, three days later.
“The change of Warrior Day characteristics demanded by Student Affairs is of too short notice for ASI to protect the safety of the students at this Warrior Day,” mentioned ASI in the press release.
More than 3,500 students as well as 1,500 visitors attended Warrior day last year, according to the Office of Student Affairs.
“I’m surprised they would take this away from the students,” said a former CSU Stanislaus student David Rocha. “This is a bad decision. The mistake of the few shouldn’t punish the thousands.”
ASI cancelled Warrior Day for the year to save the tradition and to have future Warrior Days in the upcoming years, according to Khodabandeh. He also mentioned that ASI will have more time to prepare a more thorough and stronger campaign against the alcohol related crimes mentioned by the office of Student affairs.
“Tuition goes up and the fun goes down,” said Brian Souza (junior, Agricultural Studies ).