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All-campus party begins celebration

The Wisconsin Alumni Student Board will kick off its fifth annual University of Wisconsin All-Campus Party Monday.

WASB, in collaboration with various other student organizations, will host the All-Campus Party as a weeklong, cost-free non-alcoholic alternative for UW students to celebrate the approaching end of the academic year in a positive manner.

The All-Campus Party will host the band Violent Femmes, but only after a myriad of other events throughout the week.

According to party co-director Kris MacDonald, the real impetus of this year’s All-Campus Party will be Thursday, when Chancellor John Wiley will hold a Plan 2008 diversity forum sponsored by the Multi Cultural Student Coalition and a “house party” at Bascom Hill and 500 Lincoln Dr.

“Number one is definitely Chancellor Wiley’s house party, not only because it’s a new and unique event, but because it follows another great event,” Macdonald said. “The [Plan 2008] forum is really important in regards to campus climate … then, we’re going to kick it with Chancellor Wiley’s house party.”

At the Plan 2008 forum, Wiley will speak and answer students’ questions regarding diversity on campus. Wiley will also address how UW plans to achieve the mission’s goals to attain and retain a more diverse campus community.

After the forum, Chancellor Wiley will tap kegs of free root beer while rocking out to performances from the MadHatters and Polydream, according to MacDonald.

Other events of the All-Campus Party will begin Monday with “breakfast with Bucky” on Bascom Hill and Engineering Mall, where Bucky will hand out free doughnuts and beverages to students. Monday will also feature a four-on-four sand volleyball tournament and the ongoing dodgeball tournament semifinals and finals, both at the Natatorium.

Tuesday will feature a UW version of American Idol titled “All-Campus Idol” at the Memorial Union Theatre, where a single talented student will be chosen from numerous entries to open on stage for the Violent Femmes Friday. The winner of the Thursday’s Battle of the Bands will also open for the alternative band at the Memorial Union Terrace Friday.

More than 15 student organizations will be participating in “Bucky’s Carnival” on Library Mall Wednesday. Bucky’s Carnival will host various games and prize giveaways, including UW Book Store gift certificates and Apple iPod mp3 players.

The idea to hold an all-campus party was first conceived five years ago by three WASB students who, while throwing a football around Library Mall, wanted to bring UW students from across campus together to celebrate the end of the school year, according to MacDonald.

“That mission statement blossomed in two different branches,” MacDonald said. “One is a celebration of all different aspects of the university … the other developed into a alcohol-alternative mission.”

MacDonald added that the two ideals remain the focus of the All-Campus Party today.

Beginning as a diversity and alcohol-alternative apparition of three WASB students, the All-Campus Party soon evolved into a weeklong campus extravaganza hosting acts such as RUN DMC and Arrested Development.