With the buzz around Freakfest 2008 sweeping through the University of Wisconsin campus, UW Housing, private residence halls and apartment managers will continue to enforce limited guest policies this weekend.
Starting Friday, Oct. 31, University Residence Halls will enforce their no-guest policy through Sunday, Nov. 2. The policy, which originated in 2005, prohibits non-residents from entering public residence halls.
Keri Robbins, director of the Housing and Communications Division of University Housing, said the strict Freakfest regulations are to ensure the safety of residence hall residents.
“The dean of students set the agenda for campus to keep the weekend safe for students,” Robbins said. “The goal is to support the campus’ desire to keep students safe.”
Robbins said Freakfest is not a university-sponsored event, and out-of-town guests usually have records of vandalism and assault due to what she called lack of concern for the community.
UW Housing residents are required to have their university identification with them at all times and may be asked by the UW police officers guarding entryways to display their ID card to be granted entry into their residence halls.
UW freshman Josh Rae, who lives in Sellery Hall, said the no-guest policy angers him, adding he does not understand why other weekend out-of-town guests can stay in the dorms, but during Freakfest, no guests are allowed.
“People don’t even want to come back to Sellery because there are cops outside,” Rae said. “I may even stay with my friends who have a hotel because I don’t want to run into the cops at Sellery.”
Private residence halls such as the Statesider and Towers on North Frances Street are also taking safety precautions for Freakfest.
Residents of these dorms are required to wear a wristband with an ID number. Each resident is permitted to have one guest stay in the dorm if registered before noon on Oct. 30. There will also be police officers at the entrance of the buildings all weekend checking wristband IDs.
“I know someone who is having his four friends come for Freakfest and is signing them in under multiple peoples’ names,” said Jenny Ermer, a UW freshman living at Statesider. “If you really wanted your friends to come, it’s not impossible to have them come.”
Megan Duncan, Statesider assistant general manager, acknowledged the ability to bypass the one-guest rule but affirmed there is no way to have more than double the number of residents in the building.
Helena Manning, property manager of College Park Springbrook Row Apartment, said her apartment buildings are also requesting students to limit the number of guests they invite for Freakfest weekend.
“I was a student here and a housefellow here, so I know how fun Halloween can be,” Manning said. “But I also know how dangerous it can be. Having people come in and out of an apartment … can diminish security for everybody.”