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UW Police force frat to nix party

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Also by Pedro Oliveira Jr.:

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by Pedro Oliveira Jr.

Monday, September 17, 2007

The University of Wisconsin Police Department canceled a Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity event last week due to security concerns, representatives of the fraternity said Saturday.

The event, called "Seductive Ritmo," was set to take place at the Memorial Union's Tripp Commons on Saturday.

Fraternity leaders say it was intended to celebrate the beginning of the Hispanic Heritage Month and the Mexican Independence Day. The event was cosponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

James Cueva, a Miami-based attorney representing Lambda Theta Phi, said UWPD expressed a concern toward the musical styles played in the event and said the cancellation was due in part to problems the department has had with parties where hip-hop is played.

"We were taken back by that; it just seems to be stereotyping," Cueva said. "It felt a little bit like racial profiling."

Lambda Theta Phi UW President Jon Gutierrez, who said he was present when UWPD informed the fraternity of the event cancellation, said he was shocked to know the event had been canceled on such short notice.

Gutierrez said the "contract was signed, the DJ contracted and the organization's members were only waiting for the party to happen."

Fraternity members say they were told UWPD was mainly concerned about the number of people allowed in the party and the possibility of having nonuniversity related people in the event, according to Gutierrez.

He added the event organizers were planning to check IDs and regulate the number of people allowed in the party.

"There are things to minimize capacity, to turn people away," Gutierrez said. "I just don't understand why they couldn't have done it with this party."

According to Cueva, the organization is evaluating its current options and discussing them with UW officials.

"We'd like to see something in form of a written apology from the university," Cueva said. "It's unfortunate that the UWPD chose to cancel this event."

Cueva added the department seems to be open to working this matter out, and the two parties are discussing the policies and procedures to ensure a similar incident does not happen in the future.

Officials from UWPD were not available for comment Sunday.

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Anonymous (September 17, 2007 @ 8:51am):

this article is fatally flawed...it doesn't contain a single quote from an advocate for the police.

Anonymous (September 17, 2007 @ 10:44am):

Rap is the devil's music. Thank god for rock and roll (which is presumably no longer the devil's music).

Anonymous (September 17, 2007 @ 11:07am):

to 8:51a.m., as you might have noticed the article says "officials from UWPD were not available for comment Sunday."

maybe they'll follow up with the PD later

Anonymous (September 17, 2007 @ 11:29am):

The UW police department sent a leter to the fraternities saying their goal this year was "to end the many partying traditions of Langdon St.", that is including gameday parties outside of all houses, even non-frat homes. That is ridiculous and the cops need to lay off. You think there would be more important things for them to worry about on this campus.

There has been rapes, robberies, and who knows what else in years past, but it is important to spend time and energy on breaking up a party involving rap????

Anonymous (September 17, 2007 @ 11:47am):

This is BS! If the UW-PD's concern was about security and the criminal element related to hip-hop, then what about the Dane Dances event that was held at the MU terrace this past summer? That event was open to the public AND they invited everyone in the city of Madison to come out and party to hip-hop. So what's the difference? I didn't hear about the UW-PD officials fretting about it then, but now? Sounds discriminatory to me.

Anonymous (September 17, 2007 @ 2:38pm):

"The UW police department sent a leter to the fraternities saying their goal this year was "to end the many partying traditions of Langdon St.", that is including gameday parties outside of all houses, even non-frat homes. That is ridiculous and the cops need to lay off. You think there would be more important things for them to worry about on this campus."

Wrong. That wasn't the UWPD, that was the MPD, more specifically Tony Fiore.
Huge, huge difference.

Anonymous (September 17, 2007 @ 4:28pm):

Whoa...guys lets know our facts and be open-minded about the issue

A. We need to remember that both Alpha Phi Alpha and Lambda Theta Phi are not fraternities on "Langdon" And both organizations are memebers of non-IFC councils ere-go they may not have received said letter, from the UW Police.

B. Lets not make this about one person, Officer Fiore may not have even been involved, and is also an officer who has done a great deal for both the campus community as a whole as well as fraternities and sororities specifically.

Anonymous (September 17, 2007 @ 5:18pm):

No one runs a safer party than a University of Wisconsin Fraternity that plays by the rules. Most of them do. If they don't, you read about it here. All the fraternities have to answer to the Greek Judicial Board, the Student Organization Office, their local alumni boards, and of course, their National Board of Directors when throwing parties that adhere to strict guidelines that strike the balance of fun and safety.

DONT EVEN BEGIN TO SAY THAT IT IS SAFER TO GO TO A RANDOM APARTMENT OR HOUSE IN COLLEGE COURT, DOTY STREET, THE SAXONY, ROUND HOUSE, AND BEYOND. THEY HAVE TO ANSWER TO NO ONE BUT THEMSELVES.

When was the last time someone on the above-mentioned streets and residences filed a contract to adhere to strict policies before admitting huge numbers of party guests.

RESPECT THE WISCONSIN FRATERNITIES

Anonymous (September 17, 2007 @ 6:24pm):

Officer Fiore is a guy who has failed at his job. He's a backwards prohibitionist who scores easy points targeting the frats and sororities. His approach, however noble he may think, is misguided. He has only pushed the illegal activities underground into less safe atmospheres and he oversaw an incredible spikes in violent crime.

Great work Officer Fiore. I'm sure your duty to "protect and serve" the city of Madison by invading frats and sororities is exactly the type of work your parents saw fit for you.

Anonymous (September 17, 2007 @ 8:07pm):

THIS IS TOTALLY RACIAL DISCRIMINATION!!! THE PARTY HAD BEEN PLANNED WELL IN ADVANCE AND THE PROPER PAPERWORK FILED THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY.

Anonymous (September 17, 2007 @ 9:19pm):

"Great work Officer Fiore. I'm sure your duty to "protect and serve" the city of Madison by invading frats and sororities is exactly the type of work your parents saw fit for you."

Well said - - - Fiore is a real piece of work and is destroying traditions that make this campus great. Not that partying is a reason to attend a school, but there is nothing like game day in Madison and he has ruined that.

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