Two days and how many hours? For most, the plan for Saturday will consist of waking up at 8 a.m., starting to drink, keep drinking, keep drinking, keep drinking and hopefully not passing out. That's right, it's spring at UW and the Mifflin Street Block Party is almost here. It is the day in Madison where police and students interact in a social setting and all have a good time, unless students take advantage of the situation. In order to leave Mifflin Street without a ticket, know the rules.
On Monday, city officials met to inform students of their expectations for Saturday.
"Our No. 1 concern is having a safe day," Madison Police Capt. Mary Schauf said. "The personal injuries don't need to happen."
The rules for Mifflin exist for good reasons. After the riots that occurred in 1996, UW students are lucky to still have the party at all. Madison Police Capt. Mary Schauf suggested that students educate themselves on this year's enforcement policies regarding alcohol and other issues. In an effort to limit underage drinking and over-consumption, Ms. Schauf said the police will work to enforce policies similar to last year to keep everyone safe.
To the Mifflin Street residents: thank you and good luck. The majority of the people in the houses will be unknown, so be prepared to confront issues that could potentially affect other residents. Although it may seem "cool" at the time to have the biggest, loudest party, the police know that "most people don't buy 20 or 30 kegs out of the goodness of their hearts," as Ms. Schauf says. The consequences of selling alcohol without a permit or providing to minors are severe. "We know most of the tricks, whether it's selling directly or taking donations," she added.
Besides alcohol ordinances, beware of a city-mandated keg limit that prohibits each residence from having more than four kegs and the capacity limit for the house. Fifty or more people in a house will be considered a hazardous situation by the Madison Fire Department as well as balconies with more than four people since many of the Mifflin Street houses are old.
As for the partiers, all normal alcohol ordinances will still be enforced. Besides being of legal drinking age, it is illegal to have open containers of alcohol on public property during the block party, including sidewalks, terraces and the street itself. Students who receive citations will most likely be ticketed and released later in the day. Also consider the "glass free zones," an ordinance that prohibits the possession of glass bottles of any type, open or closed.
Ald. Mike Verveer, who proposed the ban, said that the ban was created for safety reasons, but it also decreases the amount of cleanup for the city. His intention is not to decrease the amount of alcohol people buy during the celebration or to discourage consumption of alcohol. Mr. Verveer said, "Mifflin Street is such a special day, and I don't think people will get too excited about whether they will get to drink out of a bottle or a can." An eight o'clock curfew for outside music will be enforced, so that city sweepers can clean the streets by nine.
So have fun, but please be respectful. Students on Mifflin Street are opening up their houses to students that they do not know and allowing them to drink their alcohol. Sound like a dangerous situation? Only for those who are unprepared. Mr. Verveer said the "vast majority" of the police force are cooperative with partygoers and still will be willing to pose for photos with students. Capt. John Davenport of the MPD, said: "The cops love it and students love it, so you can have your heyday and have it done."
Joelle Parks ([email protected]) is a sophomore intending to major in journalism.
