We are writing on behalf of the Wisconsin Alumni Student Board (WASB) in order to thank the thousands of students who participated in last week's All-Campus Party (ACP). WASB members work year round to plan and coordinate one of the largest student-run, cost-free and alcohol-alternative campus events in the United States, and we are extremely proud of last week's series of activities.
One of our chief goals for All-Campus Party has always been to celebrate the diverse student life of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To facilitate participation across campus, WASB distributed $6,000 of its sponsorship money to the dozens of student organizations that hosted activities during the week. These funds would otherwise come from segregated fees. The active participation of so many student organizations–clubs, honor societies, music and dance ensembles, fraternities and sororities–makes All-Campus Party such a unique campus event and is a major force behind the week's success. We would like to thank all of our 70-plus student org event partners and we hope to continue to grow our campus collaborations. In fact, discussions for planning for 2008 have already begun.
As you might imagine, All-Campus Party is a big event that requires a large budget. To ensure a minimal impact on segregated fees while engaging more than 20,000 UW-Madison student participants, WASB fundraises beyond the ASM grant, which constitutes just under 15 percent of the overall ACP budget. WASB members work for many months to secure funding from local and corporate sponsors as well as grant money from a number of university departments. We would especially like to thank the Associated Students of Madison and the Office of the Chancellor for their significant contributions to the week's events. These event grants are essential in making ACP happen.
Regarding the Badger Blowout Concert, planning began last May for this year's concert and WASB had hoped to again be in the Field House. Although WASB had the support of our campus advisory committee and athletic department facilities, schedules did not accommodate, as sometimes happens with the many demands on campus venues. Some have suggested the Memorial Union Terrace or Natatorium fields as an alternative location, both of which have been previous venues for the concert, but these sites present potential for weather-related problems and, more importantly, difficulty restricting alcohol-use at an alcohol-alternative event. We chose the Orpheum venue this year because it allowed us to minimize costs and offer easy accessibility. As campus event planners know, planning a large-scale concert can be a challenge, and we work hard to be flexible, knowing that every year is going to present different possibilities. In the future, we hope to utilize the Field House and even the Kohl Center as scheduling permits, making enough seats available for every member of the university community.
Finally, we would like to note that this year's concert was dedicated to the memory of John W. Jung, a former WASB who co-conceived and organized the first All-Campus Party seven years ago. Although we tragically lost John last year, his example continues to inspire our organization and campus.
We hope that you enjoyed the 2007 All-Campus Party and that you were one of the thousands of participants in the weeklong party. WASB is dedicated to advancing the University of Wisconsin community and we look forward to serving you again next school year through ACP or other WASB programs. Our officers and members are all volunteers and devote countless hours toward promoting the WASB mission of connecting students past, present and future. WASB members deliver our many events throughout the year designed to enhance student life, provide opportunities for professional and personal development and, ultimately, promote the Wisconsin Experience.
Best,
Nick Osiecki
President 2006-07, Wisconsin Alumni Student Board
Aleem Bakhtiar
President Elect 2007-08, Wisconsin Alumni Student Board
