Listen to a condensed version of the Herald editorial board’s discussion that formed the basis for this editorial.

University of Wisconsin administrative and city leaders have it out for the Mifflin Street Block Party. This is no secret to anyone who has followed the news since two people were stabbed at last year’s party.

This board was unsurprised to see Dean of Students Lori Berquam release a painful video with a refrain of “don’t go” to Mifflin. Berquam has hinted at disdain for the event in the past. But although her job description requires her to protect the interests of the administration, this is not an excuse for the condescending tone used in her video.

Berquam did make an important point: Students still have a responsibility to make the event as safe as possible and not ignore unfortunate events that have taken place at Mifflin recently. We do not believe UW students should avoid the party, but they should be more
aware of the high stakes surrounding it this year.

In an effort to improve the climate at Mifflin, the city has allowed some elbow room for those who want to enjoy their day drinking in peace. Earlier this week, Madison Police announced they plan to allow Mifflin residents to register their parties and effectively receive immunity from police activity if all partygoers and partythrowers are older than 21. 

This move, unlike Berquam’s counterproductive lecture, is creative and a step toward the type of strategies that need to be developed. But it will ultimately fail at fostering the student self-regulation the police are rightly working toward and impose unwanted legal liabilities. If a group of underage partygoers strays into a registered party, what does that mean for the registrant if police bust the party?

For the last year, we have urged that students take back ownership of the party. In past years, ownership worked when students felt like they, not the city, regulated Mifflin. By giving students control of their own houses and offering the police presence as a resource when an issue arises, the city can strike a balance that achieves their ultimate goal of a safer, more manageable Mifflin.

Mifflin needs plenty of creative solutions. But that does not mean it needs myopic ones.