OPINION & EDITORIAL
Halloween should be fun, not embarrassing
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Also by Matt Modell:
- Taking responsibility for your decisions (April 24, 2003)
- An honorable and just battle (November 20, 2003)
- Fixing the problems of ASM (November 25, 2003)
- The key word is 'illegal' (December 4, 2003)
- A fond farewell to UW (December 11, 2003)
Related Stories:
- A harrowing eve` (November 4, 2002)
- Have a wild and safe Halloween (October 30, 2003)
- Halloween needs your help (September 13, 2006)
- Happy Halloween (October 21, 2001)
- Halloween, take 2 (October 30, 2001)
by Matt Modell
Thursday, November 6, 2003
What happened to the good old days? Where are the days when the Badgers advanced to the Final Four and students instinctively fled to State Street to celebrate? We danced and yelled and screamed and drank the rest of the night in celebration. No windows were broken, no cars overturned and I certainly do not remember anyone being arrested on State Street for disrupting the crowd and carrying a .9 mm gun.
Things have changed for the worse over the last four years. Last year, rioting destroyed Halloween. This year, at least two cars were overturned after the victory over Ohio State. What possesses people to get so excited about a win that they have an uncontrollable urge to overturn a car and cause thousands of dollars of destruction?
Halloween was going well this year. Friday night was a typical fall evening, and State Street was filled with happy drunks. Saturday evening brought the rain, but it seemed to be a peaceful evening for the most part.
Then Sunday morning came and the weekend’s bad news hit the city. Apparently, a UW-Whitewater student was arrested Friday evening on State Street with not only a .9 mm gun but, even more frightening, he was carrying an extra clip of ammunition.
I remember being disappointed Saturday evening with a small crowd of students who, around 1:30 a.m., were moshing on State Street and chanting, “Fuck the cops.” The police had been acting appropriately all weekend — allowing students to have fun and only stepping in when laws were being blatantly broken or there was a real safety risk. The behavior of this small minority of college-aged people was disrespectful and totally inappropriate.
It turns out that later in the evening, that same crowd or a new batch of students near the same area decided to continue moshing and throwing things at windows. In total, eight businesses had their windows broken, resulting in thousands of dollars in damage.
Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, but what was the purpose of this immature and illegal behavior? Are there really people out there that simply want to ruin Halloween for the vast majority who go out to have a great time and finish the night without throwing a single stone?
Some city officials have blamed the problem on Minnesota residents who came to party in Madison this weekend. However, it wasn’t Minnesota students who overturned the cars after the Ohio State game, and Wisconsin students were, in fact, involved in the rioting at last year’s Halloween festivities, so it would be na�ve to say no Wisconsin students were involved in this year’s disturbance.
To blame Minnesota students for opening their window at the University Inn and singing the Minnesota fight song is an equally bad excuse, because it is likely UW students will sing the Badger fight song this weekend on the streets of Minneapolis, and Madison would be outraged if Minnesotans started throwing objects at our students simply for singing the school fight song.
Halloween is one of the most exciting weekends in Madison each year, and the reputation of the party continues to grow. But the problems that occurred this past weekend absolutely must stop. However, they will likely not stop unless a few policy changes are made.
First, no more bands performing in Library Mall at night. If you really need bands, have them perform on the Terrace, where it is easier to control the crowd. While it was a novel idea to have these bands play, it only brings more risks and the possibility of more problems.
Second, Madison must get tough on those who were involved in the Saturday night disturbance and other felonies that occurred over the weekend. These offenders should be made an example of — no more light sentences or probation, because it only encourages misbehavior.
Next, the police should make it perfectly clear that for next year’s Halloween celebration, anyone moshing on State Street will be subject to immediate arrest for attempting to incite a riot. Police have this power, and if students and visitors know the police are serious about enforcing this law, people will think long and hard before trying to start trouble.
Finally, bar time should be eliminated. It should be eliminated all 365 days of the year, something for which Chancellor Wiley has voiced support. But if that is not feasible, at the very least bar time should be eliminated Halloween weekend. If there is no bar time, the crowds on State Street will be substantially less at all times than the size of the crowd is at around 2 a.m. under the current law. If the crowds are smaller, it will allow the police a better opportunity to control the crowd, keeping it safer for students and hopefully preventing the problems that have occurred over the past two years.
Halloween is a wonderful experience in Madison, but the rioting must stop. This behavior is embarrassing for the university, and the city and students should feel ashamed.
Matt Modell (mmodell@badgerherald.com) is a senior majoring in journalism and political science.
