NEWS
ASM holds forum to discuss Halloween
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by Jimmy Rahm
Wednesday, April 7, 2004
Associated Students of Madison committee members held an open forum Tuesday night at Memorial Union to present and discuss their plans for next year’s Halloween festivities. The group focused on how to make the weekend a safer event.
“We want to keep it a big event, but make it safer,” committee member Barry Landy said.
The group maintained an optimistic tone about ways to improve safety measures for Halloween and ways to present a more casual nature to the night, particularly the hours following bar time. The group ultimately hopes to maintain Madison’s Halloween reputation, but make it safer and riot free.
Although plans are in their early stages, the group hopes to get the university and surrounding community involved in new and different activities throughout the day and night.
“We’re trying to bridge the communication gap between the university, students and the planning committees,” committee member Kristina Mueller said.
The committee is hoping to gather more information about what went wrong in previous years to avoid another ugly ending to the night. More daytime activities may help to keep the entire day safe.
“We want to reduce the need to sit around and wait for something to happen,” Landy said, noting a lack of solid plans for students and visitors can be problematic.
Committee members discussed keeping more restaurants open later to provide more outlets for crowds after bar time, as well as offering other late-night food options.
“This would help with safety measures, and would also help [restaurants’] financial standing,” committee member Lauren Green said.
The group also looked at providing more transportation options, such as free cab services or having a business pay to keep city buses in operation later than usual.
Committee members strongly favored staging a popular music act for a free concert to spread out crowds.
“We want to make plans for a happier atmosphere by having somewhere to go,” Mueller said.
The group also addressed the problem of visitors hearing about previous riots and looking to perpetuate that trend.
More relaxed police efforts, they said, could lessen stress on the crowds, leading to a more relaxed ending to the night.
In addition, better lighting on State Street may create a safer environment, members said, and police using floodlights could control crowds.
Committee members plan to continue seeking ideas and engaging more people in the planning process. They will hold more meetings to reach a decision on what to do with the hoards of crowds throughout the entire day, in hopes for reaching a safer ending.
Committee members also included Erik Goebel, Ashley Sigrist and Dan Hudson.
