Although the long-awaited Halloween weekend is just around the corner, many University of Wisconsin students say State Street will not be on their agendas this year.

Increased city control over the event for this year’s State Street Halloween tradition, now officially called Freakfest, has decreased its appeal for many students.

“I think things are just getting too — I hate to say this — but strictly, anal,” said UW senior Louis Washington. “I think they’re being a little too cautious as far as trying to prevent things from occurring. We are college students, but we aren’t animals.”

Washington has participated in the State Street Halloween celebration every year since he was a freshman, but said last year’s Halloween may have been his last.

“Just knowing that there’s going to be tons of [surveillance] kind of makes it less appealing to even want to partake in,” Washington said. “There’s too much regulation going on in this area.”

UW sophomore Jeff Guth said he agrees there is too much control over the event.

“It’s not really what it used to be,” Guth said. “I haven’t gone, and I won’t be going soon because of what they’ve done.”

Despite student complaints, UW spokesperson John Lucas said the university is pleased with the recent changes and supports the city’s efforts to ensure the night ends pepper spray-free.

“I know some people admired the organic nature of Halloween in past years, but we have always been concerned about student safety at the event and student alcohol consumption,” Lucas said. “I mean, clearly, there was something that was broken with Halloween a couple years back.”

Some students, however, said safety was never an issue for them.

“I didn’t feel unsafe at all before,” Guth said. “The police can be used better elsewhere. It’s a bad use of resources.”

UW junior Tammy Douangsy, who went to the State Street Halloween event her freshman year — which was before the increase in city regulation — said she also felt safe that night.

“It was part of the experience; it was just like you knew going in that it would be a bunch of drunk people,” Douangsy said. “That’s why I didn’t go last year, because they changed it.”

Washington said the city regulation of the event may even have the opposite effect and encourage bad behavior. He compared it to the drinking age and the incentive he said it gives some underage people to drink.

“I just think the regulations are too much, and it seems like every year it’s getting a little bit worse, and a little bit worse, and it’s not like the students are getting worse,” Washington said. “It’s the fact that the city keeps adding on more regulation and more regulation, which is causing people to want to be so obnoxious.”

Despite student sentiments, however, Lucas said the university hopes city involvement in Freakfest this year will bring a peaceful ending to the night.

The university will also be hosting an alcohol-free alternative to the State Street festivities at the Union South Games Room from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Mark Kennedy, communications director for the Wisconsin Union, said $5 will get students free access to bowling, pool, table tennis, popcorn, prizes and candy.

“Costumes are not required, but are encouraged,” Kennedy said.