The letter they sent is laughable. Feel free to send a million letters, how about one to each student, Brandon. You'll never get 1 cent from us! Moreover, we'll party when we feel like it. Everyone who assigned police to work on May 7 knew that no one would want to party that weekend--you can't tell me they are so dumb they didn't know that. It was all just a big beurocratic conspiracy to end the block party just as they're trying to end Halloween. Madison is a liberal city--yeah right! It all revolves around money and greed just like everywhere else. The good thing about this city is the students who come here and they way we do things. So many people in Madison owe their success and liveliehood to us.

Dear Brandon,

"IF I WASN'T A CELEBRITY,
WOULD YOU BE SO NICE TO ME?
IF I DIDN'T HAVE CHEESE LIKE EVERYDAY,
WOULD YOU STILL WANNA BE WITH ME?
IF I COULDN'T BUY YOU DIAMOND RINGS AND ALL THOSE OTHER EXPENSIVE THINGS.
WOULD YOU BE SO INTO ME,
IF I WASN'T A CELEBRITY?"

Love,
UW Students and ASM

I believe Zach Brandon has just re-defined the term "douchebag."

Forget Mifflin Street, let's go party in Laundry 101. But we'll bring everything, so we won't actually spend any money there, we'll just trash the place.

I hope we remember this publicity stunt when Brandon tries to run for mayor. Students are apparently good enough to keep his business going but beyond that we can forget his support. What a two-face.

"Forget Mifflin Street, let's go party in Laundry 101. But we'll bring everything, so we won't actually spend any money there, we'll just trash the place."

GILMAN STREET BLOCK PARTY!

Trashing Laundry 101 isn't the answer. Just stop going there!

Considering the ASM has money ear marked for this exact type of event, and since they were the ones who wanted the date moved why shouldnt they pay something toward the cost of changing the date? Also, considering the city allows(yes it is a privilege to close down a street and have the city and police look the other way while you party, NOT A RIGHT) and considering the fact that somehow the party has always been on the same weekend in the past, why should the city have to cover all the expense? The UW is one of the reasons i moved to the Madison area, however some students belief that the UW students should be able to do whatever they want, whenever they want is extremely arrogant and self centered. You may have a big positive effect on the city, you DO NOT OWN THE CITY.

Instant Karama. Should've stuck with the 7th.

http://www.weather.com/activities/other/other/weather/tenday-details.html?locid=53703&dayNum=3

My opinion is ASM didn't "negotiate" a change in the party date at all. Students were having their party April 30 with the city or without. ASM did the city a huge favor saving them money, and making them realize students had already scheduled April 30 as the party date.

"Considering the ASM has money ear marked for this exact type of event"

Please tell me what money we have "ear-marked" for this event? I personally helped write or oversee all the segregated fee budgets. We plan our finances a year in advance and I know for a fact we don't have any money for any event remotely resembling Miffline

Students should have to pay the costs. It's utterly ridiculous the amount of drunken parties that go on with students who think that they can spend all the city's resources and not pay a dime. You all are the same people who threw a fit and said Audrey Seiler should pay the bill for her debacle - so should UW students.

What the hell does the ASM do anyway? All they ever seem to do is whine about stuff and get the students into trouble.

If ASM doesn't have the money to foot the bill for Mifflin then the ASM shouldn't be throwing their weight around to change the date.

ASM didn't do anything to change the date. Students are partying April 30th no matter what. ASM just convinced the city of this. If the city doesn't feel like paying money out, then don't. Don't hire all the police and all that shit, all they do is get in the way anyway. Simple as that. No one is forcing the city to shell out this money.

I wonder if the city bill would include a credit for all of the profits they make from ticketing students.

"You all are the same people who threw a fit and said Audrey Seiler should pay the bill for her debacle - so should UW students."

Then all the non-UW students, and there are MANY, should have to contribute too? Your comaprison is apples to oranges.

What you fail to consider is what UW students do to make Madison the great place it is. You can't have it both ways. Conversely, some peer pressure would be appropriate as well. The mindset that someone can just go around pissing all over, wrecking things, tossing garbage everywhere is not acceptable. We students don't do enough self-policing on that end. How hard is it to say "dude, go put that in a garbage can" or " hey, knock it off you're just making us all look bad"?

How about billing the UW system for scheduling exams on Sundays which caused this debacle in the first place.

The fact is that Zach Brandon brought this up with basically no time left to discuss the issue. I see both sides of the argument about students paying... but seriously, bringing it up so late? What would the point be to write a letter with such little notice? Brandon makes money off the students, and then the second he can score points with the community by speaking against students, he does. I'm definitely not going to Laundry 101 anymore, and students should consider doing the same.

"I wonder if the city bill would include a credit for all of the profits they make from ticketing students."

In fact, revenue from tickets written on these treasured Saturdays have by-and-large covered the costs of police overtime in past years.

And while students will comprise 90% of those at the party, it's not a UW event. It is a neighborhood event. And it is the neighborhood which decided to have the party on the 30th. The police are at fault for ASSUMING when the party would be without talking to a single house that would be hosting the party.

All ASM did was provide a formal voice to the city for what the neighborhood was planning.

Besides, the bill of this party isn't that much. Give me a break.

Yes, I agree with the previous poster, it'll be a cold day in hell when I bring my business or recommend anyone else to Laundry 101.

Responding to the poster above about money being earmarked for THIS EXACT TYPE OF EVENTS! I did not say that money was specifically set aside for the Mifflin Street block party, again my statement was THIS EXACT TYPE OF EVENT.(NOT, THIS YEARS MIFFLIN STREET BLOCK PARTY) How much % wise is ASM budget earmarked for special events? And why shouldnt the ASM give up some $$ for this party. I realize that your budget is done a year in advance, but couldnt you offer the city(taxpayers) some $$ from next year's budget to be paid at the start of next year?

"I realize that your budget is done a year in advance, but couldnt you offer the city(taxpayers) some $$ from next year's budget to be paid at the start of next year? "

Why should they? It's a neighborhood event. Also, does the UW athletic department help pay for the extra policing it takes to re-route traffic and protect the entrants in the Crazylegs? Does the Atheltic Department help pay for all the polic-related issue on football game days? Does the State Street Merchants Association pitch in for the extra policing and such for Maxwell Street Days? Do gays and lesbians help pay for policing surrounding their pride event? Do restaurants pay for the extra policing for Taste of Madison? All these events, including Mifflin Street Block Party, are part of what makes Madison...Madison. Shouldn't the city be doing a better job of budgeting for these items as a cost of doing business?

What should happen is that if a huge party breaks out on Mifflin Street on May 7 then the city should be there to fine the shit out of people for as many infractions as they can find. And as far as that goes, they should be showing up in force during the later hours on April 30 when the crowds dwindle and the idiot drunks start causing their idiot damage.

IT IS NOT A NEIGHBORHOOD EVENT!! are you joking? Thank you, i have not had that good a laugh in awhile. Thats like saying Halloween is just a state street neighborhood party. Wow, did you really just say that this a neighborhood party? LMAO. Next point, i always thought tradition decided the date. But i guess screw tradition otherwise i might have to make a decision on balancing my time so i could party and study.

Brandon is the most transparent attention whore I've ever seen in this town. And what the hell, did he think he was going to hide this from students by not contacting the Herald and Cardinal despite whoring himself out to numerous other outlets, or was that just to make sure students got the message that he doesn't give two shits about them?

This is the same fucking idiot who tried cutting WYOU's budget (which draws from subscriber fees, NOT city money), actually thought he was being clever by wearing a baseball cap that said "Tax Cap" on it when it should have said "Ass Hat", and took a noble stance against prostitution rehabilitation programs. What a shithead.

In case anyone wants to actually plan ahead for next year's troubles....the 2006 spring semester Study Day is on May 6, which is also the first Saturday in May (traditional Mifflin Street Block Party). Just sayin'

Noone is asking the ASM to pay for THE WHOLE EVENT, but why should'nt they have to pay the EXTRA cost for having to switch the date(again decided by tradition for how many years?)

"IT IS NOT A NEIGHBORHOOD EVENT!!"

What is it then? Who signs the permits? Who does all the planning? Is ASM responsible for all that? Please share with us?

Brandon may be an attention whore, just like most politicians, but in a city that includes Brenda Konkel and Ira Sharenow, you cannot call Zach the most transparent attention whore.

What exactly goes into planning this? and i think the point that some of us are trying to make is if the ASM is going to approach the city and also claim some responsibility to getting the date changed then they should ante up.

"Responding to the poster above about money being earmarked for THIS EXACT TYPE OF EVENTS! I did not say that money was specifically set aside for the Mifflin Street block party, again my statement was THIS EXACT TYPE OF EVENT.(NOT, THIS YEARS MIFFLIN STREET BLOCK PARTY) How much % wise is ASM budget earmarked for special events?"

Please take a look at the criteria for the money reserved for special events at www.asm.wisc.edu. These funds are for educational events put on by registered student organizations. ASM, like any government, merely lobbied on behalf of its constituents to the Mayor. We did not sign on as sponsors, pledge any money, obtain any permits, etc. Besides, the university would throw a shit fit it we tried to spend segregated fees on a non-university event like Mifflin. The Dean of Students, Chancellor and the Regents wouldn't allow it.

"Noone is asking the ASM to pay for THE WHOLE EVENT, but why should'nt they have to pay the EXTRA cost for having to switch the date(again decided by tradition for how many years?)"

Just curious, what exactly are the extra costs to the city/police department for switching a date as long as a May 7 party doesn't break out?

As far as the whole switching the date issue, what a bunch of self-centered, crybaby, pussies who can't choose their priorities (study day vs. party)! Guess what, that's how life goes. Plus how hard is it to look at the exam schedule and choose alternative classes that don't have an exam on May 8 if you are that enthralled with the Mifflin Street Block Party? This whole issue is entirely pathetic.

Why should ASM pay any money? No one "switched days." The students decided on April 30th without prior scheduling any date. How can say that we "switched days?" The city scheduled a date as part of a conspiracy to either end the party or severly curb it's intensity by placing it at the beginning of UW finals. It is not our fault their plan backfired and now they have to suffer the consequences.

And the said consequences are really not that big of a deal. I cannot believe this is even an issue with the city of Madison.

FOR THE LAST TIME YOU IGNORANT FUCKS TRADITION HAS ALWAYS DETERMINED THE DATE OF THE PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Boycott Laundry 101! Boycott Laundry 101!

Too bad, not anymore. We care too much about our studies to let some stupid party get in the way of the A. Fuck tradition! Tradition is we have a block party at the end of the spring semester whenever convenient. And that's it!

Based on tradition, the city scheduled more police on May 7th, now inorder to appease the students, alot of the officers will be paid overtime to be there.

"The city scheduled a date as part of a conspiracy to either end the party or severly curb it's intensity by placing it at the beginning of UW finals. It is not our fault their plan backfired and now they have to suffer the consequences."

That's a pretty uninformed statement if I ever heard one. This whole city of Madison conspiracy theory is just lame. The party has *always* been on the first Saturday in May. Do your research.

It's never been an issue before because the UW's schedule for spring semester was laid out differently and thus the block party always fell on the weekend before the last week of classes. If you need to place blame it should be on those responsible for determining the academic calendars and NOT the city of Madison.

Does anyone know when the "neighborhood association filled out the permit?

It's not like ASM single-handedly got the date changed. They went to the city and said, "Look, we know you've scheduled all these officers on May 7th, but we're telling you that the students are going to party on April 30th whether you like it or not. If you'll move the official date, we'll do everything we can to keep students from partying on the 7th." Seems like they did the city a favor.

Besides that, everyone I know who's coming to town for Mifflin is coming for the 30th, and have always been coming for the 30th. The only people for whom May 7th was the date were Mayor Dave and the Police Department.

Unlike the arrogant students beliefs, the city and the cops ultimately decide if a party can happen at all. If they dont want it to happen they could make that a reality, and even when the naive anarchists come out to show there might, the cops and city would prevail. Why cant that anyone understand that the city does not have to allow a block of partying, much of which is out of control and illegal.

Again, can anyone tell me when the permit for April 30th was signed?

"If you need to place blame it should be on those responsible for determining the academic calendars and NOT the city of Madison."

Right, and I never said the University and city were not in bed together.

"This whole city of Madison conspiracy theory is just lame. The party has *always* been on the first Saturday in May. Do your research."

That may be true, but it really just takes common sense to realize the majority of UW students are not going to get wasted the day before finals. I'm sorry, but I believe in my conspiracy theory. I think the UW may be more to blame than the city for moving the spring semester up one week, but I think they're in it together. I would not put it past the university at all to manipulate circumstances to get their edge. It would also be nice if the city would actually consult the people throwing and attending the party before they start scheduling dates. Tradition may be the first Saturday of May, but in the majority of UW student's eyes, performing well on finals trumps tradition--and we all know students cannot not party one last time before finals. So that only leaves one choice--April 30th.

" Unlike the arrogant students beliefs, the city and the cops ultimately decide if a party can happen at all."

That's right, and they both agreed to party on the 30th. No problem!

NICE TO SEE YOU STILL BELIEVE IN FREE SPEECH.. THE FOUNDERS OF BADGER HERALD MUST GET SICK TO THEIR STOMACH EVERY TIME THEY READ YOUR GARBAGE... IN TRUTH, THEY PROBABLY STOPPED READING YOUR RAG A LONG TIME AGO

"Again, can anyone tell me when the permit for April 30th was signed?"

There's no permit for any of it.

Someone above asked aboiut all the other events and what the city does to plan for them and police protections:

"Also, does the UW athletic department help pay for the extra policing it takes to re-route traffic and protect the entrants in the Crazylegs? Does the Atheltic Department help pay for all the polic-related issue on football game days? Does the State Street Merchants Association pitch in for the extra policing and such for Maxwell Street Days? Do gays and lesbians help pay for policing surrounding their pride event? Do restaurants pay for the extra policing for Taste of Madison? All these events, including Mifflin Street Block Party, are part of what makes Madison...Madison. Shouldn't the city be doing a better job of budgeting for these items as a cost of doing business?"

The answer to all of the above is "Yes, those groups get permits. And as part of the permit process, the organizers show they have adequate facilities and security plans."

As someone else pointed out, no one has a permit for Mifflin. No group, no organizer, no individual. While I think Ald Brandon is an idiot and an ass for pulling this stunt, it's also pretty petty and immature for the students to cry that "the city should have known."

How? Just because it's always been the first weekend in May, including several years when it was the day before exams, they are supposed to realize the students are all going to not be able to juggle studies and parties? Where were all the Mifflin neighbors last December when the police schedule was being done?

I think the police should just be sure to enforce all the laws against dispensing alcohol without a license, blocking traffic, open containers, etc. Then the city would et enough money in fines to cover the expenses. No permit? Fine, no big deal, but don't expect to be able to just do anything you want without consequences.

"Trashing Laundry 101 isn't the answer. Just stop going there!"

Maybe, but it'll sure be fun!

"I think the police should just be sure to enforce all the laws against dispensing alcohol without a license, blocking traffic, open containers, etc. Then the city would et enough money in fines to cover the expenses. No permit? Fine, no big deal, but don't expect to be able to just do anything you want without consequences."

Wow, you need to get drunk and then laid.

Since when did everyone get so much sand in their vaginas? You can't tell me that you've never been to an exam hung over. You are all a bunch of pussies. Party on the 7th

I have never been to an exam hung over.

Regardless, it looks like weather will be shit for 30th, I'm advocating moving it back to May 7th.

"Wow, you need to get drunk and then laid."

Yeah. To sleep with you, I'd have to very, very drunk.