For the first time in several years, none of the UW-Madison fraternities will be hosting formal parties the night of Freakfest 2008, but that will not stop police from patrolling Langdon Street during the Nov. 1 event.
UW-Madison coordinator of fraternity and sorority affairs Barb Kautz said this year's Halloween celebration marks the first time in her six years of working with Greek organizations that no fraternity has put in a request to host an official party.
Typically, when organizations want to hold a social function at their house, they must file a social contract with the Interfraternity Council one week before an event. In the case of events during Freakfest, however, organizations must submit a contract by Oct. 15 and also take part in training with the Madison Police Department, factors which Kautz said likely contributed to the lack of parties this year.
There's a lot more work involved and I think people just kind of say 'nah,'"" she said.
Interfraternity Council President Jeremy Reich said many organizations chose to take advantage of other events in the downtown area rather than gambling with the chance of trouble at fraternity house parties.
""There's too much at risk when you have a party on such a notorious weekend,"" Reich said.
Matt Bernstein, president of the newly reinstated Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, said his organization experienced that risk firsthand after police busted a Halloween party held at their Langdon-area house in 2005. The event resulted in $94,000 worth of citations for overcapacity and underage drinking, and the fraternity was suspended for nearly three years prior to its return to campus this fall.
""I certainly wish it didn't happen, but at the same time I think on some level it was a wakeup call not only for our own fraternity but for the entire Greek community,"" Bernstein said. ""I think that that is definitely a positive that comes out of the situation.""
Despite the lack of sanctioned parties, MPD Central District Lt. Joe Balles said police are still expecting house parties and will be patrolling Langdon Street and other student neighborhoods on both sides of State Street.
With a diverse crowd of Freakfest partiers including out-of-towners, Balles said there are predators looking to break into apartments or enter large parties and steal purses, laptops and purses. Balles said police want to keep celebrations ""reasonable and under control"" and will not bother people having small get-togethers.
""But if it's obvious you're trying to have a four or five kegger and there are a hundred-plus people showing up at your house, you can bet that MPD is going to pay you a visit,"" Balles said.
""We're down there really trying to make sure that we keep the peace and we keep crime under control while several thousand people are trying to enjoy a Saturday night Freakfest celebration,"" he said.
