After receiving a negative reaction from students and other viewers, University of Wisconsin officials pulled Dean of Students Lori Berquam’s Mifflin Street Block Party safety video early this morning.
Berquam said the video, which encouraged that students “don’t go” to Mifflin, was ultimately removed after responses caused it to veer away from its intended message.
“It started being much more mean-spirited and left the educational realm,” Berquam said. “I hope that the message wasn’t lost. The message about the students being safe is what is important.”
Berquam said her concerns about student safety stemmed from previous Mifflin events that resulted in sexual assaults and stabbings.
She said a UW student suggested she create a video to reach out to students, rather than an all-campus email. After speaking with the Advisory Board, students and the city, Berquam said she put the idea into action by creating the non-scripted, low-dollar video to convey her message to students.
“In general, Lori and the Division of Student Life care deeply about student safety, and that was the whole intent of the video,” UW spokesperson John Lucas said.
Berquam said she would prefer students did not attend the event, but if they do, she hopes they take all necessary precautions to remain safe. This might include not taking a drink from an unknown person and going with trusted friends.
Despite the intent of the video, many students had an adverse reaction, which brought an influx of negative comments on the video as well as a wave of new Mifflin T-shirt designs.
UW students created video-inspired tank tops to wear to the event saying “Dean said don’t go, we say YOLO.”
Another student created a remix of the original video, mixing Berquam’s message of “don’t go” with music artist Mike Posner’s song “Please Don’t Go.” The YouTube video gained thousands of views and shares within hours of its posting.
Berquam said she has seen the remix, likes it and hopes it incites conversation.
“If all of the students on this campus are talking about this, maybe they’ll take care of themselves,” Berquam said. “I’ll just own that I’m not a really good video personality.”
Despite controversy, Berquam expressed that she still hopes the video was a platform for safety.
“Even if this saves one student, then I’m okay [with being] the butt of jokes,” she said.
