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Mardi Gras Break

Loyola University New Orleans takes the safety of its residents and the security of its residence halls very seriously. During the Mardi Gras weekend and holiday residential students will notice some changes to protocol concerning entrance to residence halls and guests/visitation.

“Policy Overview”

  • Normal visitation is suspended for all residential students. Everyone entering a residence hall must physically hand their identification to the person at the front desk.
  • All overnight guests must be registered with the Office of Residential Life. Registration must accompany payment of $150 per guest (Late registration is $300). This fee helps pay for the extra security required during Mardi Gras.
  • Each registered overnight guest will receive a temporary building ID card to gain access to the residence hall. The Guest ID may be obtained beginning on the Friday before Mardi Gras at 8am and must be carried (with a photo ID) at ALL times.
  • Maximum occupancy of residence hall rooms during Mardi Gras weekend is one (1) more than that room's normal occupancy. In other words, any standard double-occupancy may have a total of three (3) people (two residents plus one guest). A maximum of two (2) guests can be registered to one resident, not to exceed the allotted occupancy of one (1) more than that room's normal occupancy.
  • All guests, whether overnight or not, must check-in and check-out at the Front Desk each time they enter/leave the residence hall.
  • All unregistered guests must check-out before Midnight, regardless of affiliation with the university.
  • University Police will typically work late night/early morning desk shifts in each residence hall to increase security at those hours.
  • REMEMBER: Make sure you and your guests are familiar with the general policies outlined in Loyola's Student Handbook.

“Regular Guest Visitation”

"Regular" visitation is suspended for ALL residents in ALL residence halls. Visitation hours during Mardi Gras weekend for ALL guests of any gender are 10:00 AM to Midnight. Every guests must be individually checked in to the residence hall by a host and will be required to leave an ID with the Front Desk. All guests who are not registered to stay overnight must check out of the residence hall by Midnight.

“Overnight (Registered) Guest Visitation”

All overnight guests must be same-gender; no opposite-gender registrations will be accepted. Overnight guests must be pre-registered to stay on campus during Mardi Gras weekend. Registration is open beginning the week before Mardi Gras. Host students must complete a Guest Registration Form, which can be found here.

Early Guest Registration costs $150 and must be complete by 4:00 PM on the Thursday before Mardi Gras. The student must submit the completed Guest Registration Form (with all information) and must submit cash or personal check in the amount of $150 to the Residential Life Office on the 1st Floor of Biever Hall.

Late Guest Registration begins at 4:00 PM on the Thursday before Mardi Gras and continues until Noon on the Monday before Mardi Gras (also known as Shrove Monday or Lundi Gras). The fee for Late Guest Registration is $300. If a student wishes to submit a Late Guest Registration while the Residential Life office is closed, they must contact the Front Desk. The Front Desk will contact the CD on Duty who will collect the registration form and fee, and will notify each desk to add the student to their Guest List. Payment must be submitted to the CD on Duty, as it is a holiday weekend and the Residential Life office will not be open. Registrations will be accepted between the hours of 8am and 10pm ONLY.

Absolutely NO guests may be registered after Noon on Monday.

Returned checks will be assessed a $50 fee and the total cost will be billed to the host student's University account.

“Building Access”

All guests will be issued a temporary guest identification card the first time they check into their building which will permit them into the lobby of the residence hall in which they are registered to stay. In order to enter any residence hall, a registered guest must produce that ID card along with a government-issued photo ID, such as a Driver's License.

All resident students must produce their Loyola identification card, complete with building sticker and current validation sticker, in order to gain building access.

Registered guests may enter and exit the building without their host, but will not be keyed into any residence hall room, lounge, bathroom, or kitchen.

“Personal Safety Tips”

  • Carry your Loyola ID and Driver's License at all times
  • Obey the commands and requests of all Police Officers - NOPD Officers are particularly demanding during the Mardi Gras season due to long work hours and heavy case loads
  • Let your RA and friends know where you are going and when you plan to return
  • Do not carry large amounts of cash; Use credit/debit cards as much as possible
  • Leave your jewelry, purses, bulky wallets, and other valuables at home
  • Stay in well-lit, populated areas
  • Do not get too close to any parade float and never cross any barricades

“Parade Schedules”

You can see current Parade schedules and routes online at NOLA.com.