UW creates controversial game day security

Michelle Orris

News Editor

Breese Terrace will close to all traffic before and after

football games this fall, despite protests by Breese residents and

cries of unconstitutionality by city officials.

The controversy surrounds limitations placed on motor vehicles

by University of Wisconsin Police. The limitations affect residents

of Breese Terrace, whose cars must be sniffed by police dogs for

explosives if they want to enter the street during the off-limits

game day hours.

During an Orange Alert, the second highest level in the U.S.

Department of Defense terrorist warning system, a maximum of five

residents can leave with their cars during a game. Residents can

leave only once, and they must alert police one week in advance if

they plan to drive off Breese Terrace.

The city of Madison approved the security measures in

mid-August, amid protest from City Council members and Breese

Terrace residents.

Ald. Robbie Webber, who represents Breese Terrace as the alder

of District 5, said she believes the security measures are

unconstitutional. Webber said that while exterior dog-sniffing

searches are legal, there are only four such police dogs in

Wisconsin.

UW Police want to perform interior car searches if no dogs are

available. Residents must give police permission in order for their

cars to be searched, but if residents do not comply to a search

they are not allowed to enter Breese Terrace.

“Is that legal?” Webber said. “I don’t think it is. UW thinks it

is.”

Webber said she is uncomfortable with the security because UW

has not stipulated they will not search cars barring probable

cause.

UW chancellor’s office chief-of-staff Casey Nagy has said that

security of the large Camp Randall crowd is the UW’s

responsibility.

UW junior Scott Galla, who lives on Breese Terrace, said the new

game day regulations are “obnoxious.”

“It’s kind of ridiculous; I don’t think terrorists will plot to

hurt people on Breese Terrace,” Galla said.

UW Police Sergeant Johnnie Diamante said any security measures

employed by the UW Police force are meant to provide the “safest

environment possible” for players and staff.

Former mayor Sue Bauman slammed the UW Police last summer when

she discovered they were conducting searches of Breese Terrace

residents’ cars for explosives during football games. Bauman

demanded police consult the mayor’s office before engaging in such

practices and criticized searching without probable cause.

In response, UW Police Chief Susan Riseling said residents could

park elsewhere and walk into Breese Terrace. Bauman retorted that

parking is impossible to find on game days and said that an ID

would be sufficient surveillance of the residents.