Members of the University of Wisconsin’s student government will co-sponsor a meeting with the Madison City Council to collaboratively debate the future of the Mifflin Street Block Party, members of a student government committee decided Monday.
The meeting is scheduled for Dec. 8 as a way to begin dialogue among student residents within the wider community concerning the future of the Mifflin tradition.
The Mifflin Street Block party has been a UW tradition for more than 40 years and has been facing resistance in regards to next year’s preparations from both Madison residents and city officials, according to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, who attended the meeting.
This resistance, Verveer said, comes as a result of last year’s violent incidents in which two students were stabbed during the event.
Although city officials have not yet started planning, Verveer said he realizes the Mifflin Street Block Party will not go away overnight and stressed the importance of starting dialogue early.
“It is critical to have a wider campus discussion,” Verveer said.
The meeting will take place at the Madison Senior Center located at 330 W. Mifflin St. at 7 p.m., and students are encouraged to attend.
It will not involve any police presence in an effort to obtain true student input, Verveer said. The results of an earlier student survey regarding Mifflin are also likely to be released, he added.
Associated Students of Madison Rep. Karen Scott spoke about the Legislative Affairs committee’s endorsement of the meeting, stating that if the Mifflin event is important to students as a student organization, it should be sponsored.
Verveer also touched on the Nuisance Party Bill, which aims to hold landlords more responsible for problem tenants engaging in negative behaviors such as house parties with large numbers and loud noises. The bill states landlords will be notified in the event of a police intervention in a house party disturbance.
Verveer said the bill will seek out “landlords who take a hands-off approach to tenants and problematic tenant behavior.”
Still, Verveer said the ordinance would also be able to go after students who continue the violation after police interference and subject them to further fines.
The bill, which is undergoing revisions, is likely to be discussed further at the next Alcohol License Review Committee meeting scheduled for Dec. 21, Verveer said.
The committee also took up responsible action policy at the state level during the meeting.
The policy currently states that protection is granted to an individual who calls for assistance in regards to another intoxicated individual who may require medical attention. However, the committee is working to grant protection to the students who are being helped as well, Legislative Affairs Chair Hannah Somers said.
Members of the committee said they believe the best option is to get this legislation passed at the Board of Regent’s level first and then focus on its approval in the Legislature.
“It’s our most winnable option,” Somers said.
