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UMass Amherst To Ban Dorm Guests For 'Blarney Blowout' Weekend

The University of Massachusetts, Amherst is banning students from hosting guests not affiliated with the school in their dorms for an entire weekend in March.

The school's temporary guest policy was adopted in an effort to avoid a repeat of last year's rowdy off-campus St. Patrick's Day-themed celebrations known as "Blarney Blowout." Last March, dozens were arrested at the annual drunken off-campus party, and administrators said students were looking to hold "Blarney Blowout" again on March 7.

The temporary guest policy goes into effect at 8 p.m. on March 5 and lasts until 11 p.m. on March 8.

Amherst Police Chief Scott Livingstone said the department is preparing in case parties do break out that weekend.

"Both the university police and Amherst police will be at full staff and we're reaching out to our mutual aid partners as well," he said.

Former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis led a commission to review the problems at last year's "Blarney Blowout" and find ways to keep things under control this year.

UMass administrators also barred students in dormitories from having guests sign in on the day of this year's Super Bowl. A campus spokesman said that while several thousand students poured out of the dorms after the Patriots' victory, police arrested just one person.

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