Thursday, August 16, 2007

Wilmington, N.C. - The University of North Carolina Wilmington Beach Blast 2007 will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 21 at Crystal Pier at Wrightsville Beach. Free music and food, kayaking, surfing and volleyball are some of the planned activities for UNCW students.

As part of new procedures intended to make Beach Blast safe, secure and fun for students as well as respectful to the Wrightsville Beach community, a beach sweep will begin at 5 p.m., staffed by approximately 40 volunteers from UNCW student organizations, staff and community members to make sure no trash is left on the beach.

This philosophy is reflected in the theme for this year's Beach Blast: "Come for fun. Stay for Friends. Leave only footprints." To ease parking congestion, UNCW will be running shuttles to and from the beach and is encouraging on- and off-campus students to utilize this transportation. Students will be required to present a UNCW student ID card to board shuttles and receive a wristband, which will be required to participate in any of the activities or vendor giveaways at Beach Blast.

UNCW has met with Wrightsville Beach representatives in the months preceding this event and is taking action to conduct the activities in accordance with beach ordinances and university standards. Fencing will clearly identify the perimeters where Beach Blast activity is to occur. Beach Blast is an alcohol-free event, and campus officials have notified all students that alcohol is not permitted.

UNCW students' coolers will be checked for alcohol before loading shuttles and before entering Beach Blast. Any student found with alcohol must dispose of it or he or she will not receive a wristband nor be granted admittance.

In addition to 30 dedicated UNCW staff members and key student leaders, the university has hired three members of the Wrightsville Beach Police and eight Staff One security personnel to staff the event. Police or UNCW staff will forward conduct citations to the UNCW Office of the Dean of Students for appropriate judicial action as determined by university administrators.

Michael Walker, UNCW Assistant Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students said, "We have outlined in written correspondence from the UNCW administration and the Student Government Association president, our behavioral expectations for student comportment at the event. Students who violate the law and/or UNCW policy will be documented and their conduct may be actionable within the campus judicial system, in addition to any action Wrightsville Beach Police deem appropriate."

The general public will be granted access to Beach Blast, but will not receive wristbands and cannot get free food and beverages supplied by vendors. Wrightsville Beach Police will monitor these individuals for any violations of the law including consumption of alcohol.

Classes for the fall 2007 semester at UNCW begin Wednesday, Aug. 22. UNCW's total enrollment for fall 2007 is expected to exceed 11,900 students.

Media Contacts:

Dana Fischetti, manager of news and media relations, 910.962.7259 or fischettid@uncw.edu

Michael Walker, assistant vice chancellor and dean of students, 910.962.3117, walkerm@uncw.edu