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Cal Day 2026

Key Takeaways:

  • Welcome newly admitted students and families with care and respect during Cal Day.
    • If you or your friends choose to drink or serve alcohol, please do so responsibly. Use PartySafe@Cal Harm Reduction & Risk Management resources (see below).
  • Consider using Night Safety Services (nightsafety.berkeley.edu), especially after dark, in poorly lit areas, or when walking alone.
  • Supportal is a navigational aid designed to get you to the right campus resource quickly.

 

Dear UC Berkeley Students,

Cal Day takes place tomorrow, Saturday, April 18, and is a special time for our campus as we welcome newly admitted students and their families to Berkeley. It is also historically a high-activity weekend for current students, with many gatherings and celebrations taking place across campus and the surrounding community. As we come together, we ask that you help create a safe, welcoming, and respectful environment for all who are visiting and celebrating.

Whether you are attending Cal Day events, the Cal Spring Football Game, or spending time with friends and in your community, please look out for one another and make thoughtful choices. Together, we can ensure that Cal Day is a positive and memorable experience for everyone.

 

Celebrate Responsibly:

  • Please be aware that underage drinking, open containers, and other violations of campus policy and local laws are not permitted and may result in disciplinary action.
  • Group safety: When out with friends, have a plan and look out for one another. If you go out together, make sure everyone gets home safely together.
  • Being a good Berkeley neighbor: It’s important for students to embrace the city of Berkeley and the broader community they join, including those students who live off-campus. This includes being a good neighbor. We have some tips to help students (such as those who live in congregate housing such as co-ops, fraternities and sororities) be good neighbors. Also, respect Berkeley’s Quiet hours (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.), stick to well-lit streets and avoid sleepy residential areas. Additionally, please refrain from setting off fireworks, as they can disrupt the community and pose serious safety risks.
  • For residents living in campus residence halls or apartments:
    • Prevent tailgating by refraining from holding entrance doors or gates open for people you don’t know.
    • Never prop open locked exterior or interior doors.
    • Carry your Cal1Card and room key with you at all times.

 

Getting Around Safely:

  • Don’t drive/scoot/bike under the influence of drugs or alcohol: Consider Uber, Lyft, or the free night safety services available to every member of the campus community, such as SafeWalk or the night safety shuttle: nightsafety.berkeley.edu). 
  • Scooter and ebike safety: Ride on the street or in bike lanes and follow the rules of the road. It is illegal to ride on the sidewalk. Wearing a helmet is strongly encouraged, and only one person should ride per device. Learn more at Go Safely. 
  • Download the UC Berkeley Safety App: Stay connected with tools like Friend Walk, WarnMe push notifications, Mobile Panic, and more. Free for iOS and Android. Learn more and download.
  • Consider using Night Safety Services (nightsafety.berkeley.edu), especially after dark, in poorly lit areas, or when walking alone.
  • If you need help, dial 911 or use a blue light emergency phone (located throughout the campus and identified by a blue light on top of the phone box or column).

 

Consent and Healthy Relationships:

  • Consent and healthy relationships embody respect, listening, open communication, and agency. Consent is affirmative, informed, voluntary, and can be withdrawn at any time. Consent must be a conscious decision; alcohol and other drugs can impact someone’s ability to consent. Look out for one another: speak up or take action when someone is pressuring another person or crossing a boundary. Check-in with your partner and friends to ensure boundaries are respected throughout every interaction.
  • There are resources to help you or a friend. All graduate, professional, and undergraduate students can access UC Berkeley’s PATH to Care Center, which offers confidential support services for survivors; call (510) 642-1988 for an appointment. For urgent support outside of business hours, you can call the CAPS after-hours line at (855) 817-5667. If a friend tells you they have been impacted by sexual violence and harassment, relationship violence, or stalking (SVSH), listen to them, offer support and connect them to resources.

 

Additional Support Resources:

  • Urgent Care at the Tang Center is open on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and can support students with injuries or other medical concerns.

 

Cal Day is often the first impression newly admitted students and their families have of Berkeley, and your actions help shape that experience. By looking out for one another, making thoughtful decisions, and showing care for our community and visitors, we can ensure the weekend is safe and welcoming for all.

Please have a safe, respectful, and enjoyable Cal Day weekend.

Go, Bears!

 

Stephen C. Sutton, Ed.D.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
(he/him/his)

 

Sunny Lee, Ph.D.
Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students
(she/her/hers)