City and campus officials met with students Thursday at the first of many meetings designed to decide the future of the Mifflin Street Block Party.
Given the violent incidents that occurred at last year's party, both officials and students felt a compromise between the campus and city needs to be reached.
"I stood at the barricades last spring and thought there was a marvelous energy, but that energy went south," Bert Stitt, a former president of Capitol Neighborhoods Inc., said. "I'd like to think that we can corral energy and keep it positive."
"The best way to actually make a good, positive change is to have a collaborative discussion between students, city and police," Andy Seluca, a student, CNI member and Mifflin resident, agreed.
The Associated Students of Madison presented results of a survey they conducted in recent weeks to gauge student interest in the block party.
The survey was sent out in a mass email for one week. 7,038 out of 42,000 students responded.
A majority of students said Mifflin is "necessary" and plan to attend this year, but that last year's Mifflin was out of control, and out-of-town attendees caused problems.
Students and officials were optimistic, despite possible lack of support from the city.
After stabbings and violence marred the 2011 block party, Mayor Paul Soglin vowed to end the event should it remain focused on overconsumption of alcohol.
"We can dive into work knowing that the city may not honor our decision," Stitt said. "At the same time, if you keep working and stick with it, it's definitely going to influence what the city does."
The next meeting is scheduled for late January, after students return from winter break.
