Last May, more than 400 people were arrested at Madison’s Mifflin Street Block Party. That’s double the number placed in plastic handcuffs during the annual drunken extravaganza just four years prior and just a wee bit higher than the whopping seven placed under arrest in 2003.

Madison Police Chief Noble Wray told The Badger Herald last May the number of arrests, which we believe to be exceptionally and unnecessarily high, will not decrease in future years — unless someone steps in to sponsor the event.

Ask and you shall receive.

With fewer than two weeks to go before the bash, Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, may have secured sponsorship with DCNY PRO, an upstart local production company. Other local businesses and organizations have expressed interest in helping with the event, as well. This announcement comes after the Wisconsin Union Directorate declined to sponsor the party.

We are encouraged by the efforts of Verveer and others. The number of arrests has gotten out of hand, but the student body would likely shun the party if it turns into another Freakfest, which Verveer vows is not his intent. The proposed arrangements would include setting up one stage for local bands to perform and would not involve admission gates, tickets or fees.

According to Verveer, the mayor supports the efforts and is optimistic about full backing from the Madison Police Department as well. After all, this fulfills Wray’s wish, right? We are not certain the sponsorship will be a success, and Verveer admitted this year’s efforts will be a test run of sorts for future years. But the promise of bringing music back to the event — with the possibility of increasing the number of stages in the coming years — leads us to be optimistic. The timeframe for putting everything in place this year is very tight, but Verveer says he has been working with DCNY PRO for months and has many of the logistical concerns covered.

So at the end of the day, we don’t see a real reason to oppose this plan. If it’s organized and it won’t resemble Freakfest, then we hope it works. Students should know they will probably have to follow the same don’t-set-a-foot-on-the-sidewalk rule as they have for years past, but we hope the police will show a bit more flexibility in allowing students to have their peaceful — albeit intoxicated — fun.