Earning the title of the No. 1 party school in the nation is something that many students here are proud of. Our school is known for being a place where students like to have fun, but lately it seems that this behavior has gotten too out of control and even dangerous.
Last fall, the school started a campaign called "Rolling Out the Red Carpet" in an effort to create a welcoming environment at our home football games. Selected students act as "fan ambassadors" and greet fans, hand out giveaways, and provide those with information who are unfamiliar with the Madison area. This was formed in response to numerous complaints that the UW student conduct at football games was out of control. Many visiting fans from the opposing team were offended by our behavior and didn't want to return to Camp Randall after the way they were treated here. Camp Randall is known as one of the best places in the country for college football because of the students' enthusiasm, but, lately, that enthusiasm has turned vicious when it involved fans of the opposing team.
Next, we have the highest number of students sent to detox out of any school in the nation. There have already been 30 students sent to detox this semester. In an effort to bring these numbers down, police are issuing more citations and calling the parents of underage students who have been caught drinking multiple times. Officers who come here from out of town are often shocked at how out-of-control the drinking scene is and understand the need for these measures to be taken.
Finally, there is Madison's famous Halloween celebration — something for which our school is well known. UW students, along with many people from outside the area, flock to State Street in a large celebration of Halloween. Sure, people go to State Street to see everyone in their costumes. However, there are also those who come to starts riots, vandalize and fight. The police patrol on this weekend each year is significant, and there have been many attempts to suppress the activity on State Street and even cancel the event.
Drinking and partying is an undeniable part of the student culture here at Madison, but when is enough simply enough? When it gets to the point that it puts your life in danger, causes fans of the opposing team at football games to never want to return to Camp Randall or destroys the State Street area, it seems a change has to be made. Drinking is a part of college life at pretty much any school, but UW students need to take it down a notch.
Julia Fieldbinder ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in communication arts.