UW-Madison's All-Campus Party will break from tradition this year, as a concert will take place at the Natatorium fields the day before the Mifflin Street Block Party instead of at the Memorial Union Terrace on the day of the Mifflin party.
The All-Campus Party Committee recently decided the annual festival featuring a band will occur Friday, April 30, with Better Than Ezra playing at the west end of campus, according to John Ostlund, UW-Madison junior and programs director of The Wisconsin Union Directorate Music Committee, which makes suggestions to the All-Campus Party Committee.
UW-Madison sophomore and Music Committee member Christopher May, said the band could not play at the union because it is a dry event and the union cannot afford to halt weekend alcohol sales.
\The terrace lost more than a couple thousand dollars last year because they couldn't serve any alcohol,"" May said.
Additionally, May said the ACP committee moved the event's date because in the past many attendees who were drunk from the Mifflin Street Block Party contributed to an undesirable atmosphere in which security was a problem.
May added he thinks moving the event to Friday will lead to a smaller turnout because students are accustomed to going from the daytime Mifflin party straight to the All-Campus Party concert at night.
However, UW-Madison sophomore and Music Committee member Stacey Lansing disagreed.
""I think it's better that its not on the [day] of Mifflin,"" Lansing said. ""More kids are going to be likely to come out when Mifflin is not going on.""
Both Lansing and May agreed moving the event to the Natatorium fields may deter potential attendees.
""I know a lot of kids that aren't going to hike it all the way out to the Nat Fields, but then again if you really like the band, you will,"" Lansing said.
Lansing said the ACP committee asked the Music Committee for its input on which band to choose. They asked it to decide between Better Than Ezra, Violent Femmes and De La Sol. The Music Committee voted for Violent Femmes, but the ACP committee did not follow the recommendation.
Ostlund said Better Than Ezra will cost approximately $13,000 for the concert.
