After months of confusion, hoopla, pleas and concern, Saturday’s Mifflin Street Block Party was, by all accounts, a ravishing success. For this, we have city officials, campus leaders and revelers themselves to thanks.

In particular, kudos are clearly due to Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and Ald. Mike Verveer, who represents Mifflin’s district on the City Council, for expending no small amount of time studying the conflicts of a proposed party on the University of Wisconsin’s study day, dedicating themselves to listening to both sides of the issue and then working their political might ensuring UW students could follow in the school’s grand tradition of studying hard and partying hard.

Indeed, students owe these city leaders a debt of gratitude, and we can think of no better way to repay the city of Madison than doing a very simple thing: spending Saturday in the library. Or your dorm room. Or your apartment. Or the Terrace. Or your friend’s house. Or a seedy motel somewhere in southern Idaho. Just don’t spend it partying on Mifflin Street. The party came, fun was had by nearly all and now it is time to show city leaders and residents alike that students appreciate their flexibility (which came at a substantial price) and aren’t interested in taking advantage of this unique calendar fiasco.

Mayor Cieslewicz should also be thanked for coming through strong for students’ interests when he rejected a letter signed by 11 alders requesting the block party be billed to the Associated Students of Madison. Despite the inherent absurdity of this request and its dangerous First Amendment implications, political pressure was sufficient to make at least one noted city leader cash in his 30 pieces of silver. But we are glad Mayor Cieslewicz stood up in the face of such pressure and did the right thing for students and the City of Madison alike.

So, with one marvelous day of partying now behind us, it is time to look ahead to one hellish day of studying. And we all ought to be grateful that we go to school in a city where both of these activities are equally permitted.