[media-credit name=’DEREK MONTGOMERY/Herald Photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]City officials are following tradition by planning to celebrate the Mifflin Street Block Party the first Saturday of May. However, Saturday, May 7, falls on the University of Wisconsin’s official final exams study day this year, with the testing starting the following day.

The Mifflin Street Block Party has taken place on the first Saturday of May for the past 35 years.

Due to the scheduling overlap, Mifflin residents may decide they want to move the date of the party to the previous Saturday on April 30, according to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4. Verveer, whose district includes Mifflin Street, said he is concerned that students and the Madison Police Department will not know which date the block party will occur.

“In the past, Mifflin has lined up nicely with the UW academic calendar and with at least another week of classes in between [before finals],” Verveer said. “It gave students a little more breathing room between partying and finals.”

According to MPD Captain Mary Schauf, assistant chief of police, the department was unaware of this coincidence. Having already scheduled approximately 100 officers from the department’s Special Events Team to work May 7, the MPD would like to keep the event’s original date, she added.

“We have certain contracts with our employees and need certain provisions to get enough staff for the event,” Schauf said. “Changing the date would have a ripple effect.”

Regardless of police scheduling, Verveer said he believes the MPD must respond with adequate staffing on the date Mifflin residents decide to host the block party.

“It would be more awkward for [the] city to pick the date. The city’s position is wishful thinking that the party would just go away,” Verveer said. “As someone who represents the area, I support the event.”

Verveer, however, stressed he would like to see Mifflin neighborhood residents take charge of the event and decide when to host the party. Already having received calls from bands interested in performing at the event and concerns from the police department, Verveer said he believes a date must be finalized as soon as possible.

Roz Klaas, a UW junior and Mifflin Street resident, said she believes the event should take place April 30 in order to benefit the most students.

“If Mifflin was on the study day, a lot of people wouldn’t be able to party for the whole day,” Klaas said. “Their minds would be on studying.”

Jessie Kosinski, a UW junior who also lives on Mifflin Street, believes UW students will attend the Mifflin Street Block Party regardless of finals.

“Mifflin is a tradition,” Kosinski said. “No matter when it is or if they have finals the next day, people will show up and party.”

In the past, a similar problem has occurred with the Halloween celebration on State Street. According to Verveer, if Oct. 31 does not fall on a Saturday, police are not sure when State Street will draw the biggest crowds. Without prior knowledge, the police department has been unable to adequately staff Halloween and keep crowds under control.

Verveer said he believes a similar problem could occur for the spring celebration.

“I encourage Mifflin residents to give me feedback and I have complete confidence that they will take it upon themselves to finalize the date,” Verveer said.