The city of Madison is ready for the Halloween ball to roll, thanks to efforts by the police department, city officials, the University of Wisconsin, Associated Students of Madison and downtown businesses.
In a press conference Monday, Halloween planning figureheads highlighted their objectives for the upcoming weekend.
“We have come up with a very good plan, a very solid plan,” Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said.
The plans set last year worked until the last minute, when rioters started a disturbance early Sunday morning on State Street, according to Cieslewicz. But this year’s extensive planning has brought about changes including free food and costume contests on Library Mall, extended bar time, police officers on horses, increased city ordinances and police control of the University Inn.
“We hope the entire event will go smoothly. We want people to have fun, but we want them to be safe throughout the event. That is the overriding theme: treat the city with respect,” Cieslewicz said. “We want people to enjoy the weekend responsibly so that this Madison tradition can continue.”
Newly appointed police Chief Noble Wray discussed the increased police staffing from the Middleton Police Department, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Madison Fire Department and the 911 communications center.
“All of our reputation is on the line,” Wray said. “University students will set the tone for students coming [into town].”
Wray highlighted the four objectives of the weekend: to maintain a safe and orderly event, to limit dangerous opportunities, to prevent property and street damage and also to hold people accountable for their actions. But the fate of the Halloween party will rest upon the partygoers themselves.
“This is up to those [people] attending the event to make sure it’s a safe event,” Wray said. “We are prepared to deal with [disturbances] this year.”
Wray thanked the university for its support and ASM for its involvement, but also the downtown community. Alcohol selling and serving establishments, restaurants and hotels have been helpful in getting the word out about the glass-free zones and increased fines.
According to Wray, police issued over 400 tickets during the 2003 Halloween weekend, while the city spent approximately $70,000 on the event.
LaMarr Billups, special assistant to Chancellor John Willey, described UW’s involvement in the Halloween weekend during the conference. UW is giving $15,000 to ASM for free food distributing beginning at 11 p.m. and lasting until 3 a.m. Another $2,000 will go toward publicizing the more family-centered events Saturday afternoon, including hay-rides and costume contests.
Billups said the university will review all criminal behavior during the festivities. UW students involved in disturbances will be subject to severe academic consequences.
“Students found guilty of criminal behavior on or off campus … will face sanctions up to suspension or expulsion,” Billups said sternly. “We will review all criminal behavior.”
Students from other UW schools system-wide and out-of-state students will similarly have their criminal reports sent to their schools for review. Information regarding the Madison Halloween disturbances has been sent to all Big Ten schools and other schools in the UW system, Billups added.
People involved in criminal behavior will be sent via a police car to the City County Building for processing and, if need be, Sheriff Gary Hamblin will secure cells in the Dane County Jail, according to Wray.
Kristina Mueller, ASM Halloween chair, said she is hopeful that UW students will get the word out to visiting students that State Street plays a major role in the Madison community.
“We need to take responsibility of our friends. State Street is part of our campus,” Mueller said.
