New Orleans welcomes millions of people during the Mardi Gras season, and Residential Life is dedicated to providing accommodations for students and their guests for the duration of Mardi Gras. While guest registration was due Wednesday, Feb. 18, for $75, student residents can still register guests up until noon on Feb. 23 for a late registration fee of $150.
Residential Life does provide bail for jailed students, but due to the high number of arrests, the booking process is delayed, and students cannot be bailed out until after Mardi Gras day. Residential Life states that someone who is arrested may have to stay in jail three or four days before they can be identified and released.
According to the New Orleans Police Department, 1,634 people were arrested last year during the Mardi Gras season in the French Quarter and CBD alone; all of the the arrests were for nuisances. The police department emphasizes safety for students. Captain Marlon Defillo of the NOPD advises students to never go off with strangers, and said, “basic common sense goes a long way.”
Obscenity, or lewd conduct, was a major problem during Mardi Gras 2003. Defillo said that there is zero-tolerance for such behavior, and that it could lead to being arrested. He also said those people need to know that there may be people with camcorders that record their acts, which later end up in videos sold around the country, causing embarrassment.
The New Orleans Police Department reminds citizens that “unoccupied houses and parked automobiles are tempting targets for burglars during the Mardi Gras Season, especially during parade time,” and further advises citizens to not leave personal property, such as clothing, in unattended vehicles. Police said that if personal property must be left in the car, it should be locked in the truck of the vehicle prior to parking. Police officers will be visible along parade routes before, during, and after the parades, and can help those who ask. A few other tips include drinking in moderation, not leaving drinks unattended, not wearing excessive jewelry, and carrying cash in front pockets. Defillo pointed out that more safety tips can be found at www.nopd.com.
Among the most popular parades are Endymion and Bacchus, which both feature celebrity participants. Endymion is also known for having the largest floats. Proteus, one of New Orleans’ oldest and longest-running parades, and the first to run across three centuries, runs on Monday, also called Lundi Gras. Fourteen parades will roll in New Orleans on Mardi Gras day. Two of the more popular parades, Zulu and Rex, will be among the parades to roll Mardi Gras day. Zulu, which is famed for its artistic coconut “throws,” takes the popular Uptown route and starts at 8:30 a.m., followed immediately by Rex.
* LAISSEZ LE BON TEMPS ROULLE!
Some Quick Tips: *Always go to parades with a big group, especially at night.*Leave bulky purses and wallets at home – they’re a prime target for pickpockets.*Never argue with police officers – it only makes them angry, and who needs an angry cop?*Don’t bring glass bottles to parades.*Watch out for the floats!
Thomas Slack can be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].
