While certain students reacted with vigilantism and anger to the news Friday that Madison Police Department canceled Mifflin Street block party, many responded with confusion over what it actually means and how it will change this year’s block party experience.
In a letter to Mifflin and Langdon street residents, police refused to acknowledge Mifflin and said the department will be enforcing a “no tolerance” policy for illegal house parties for the first time in the event’s 44-year history.
“Hearing that was kind of shocking,” University of Wisconsin-Madison sophomore Brienne Schaefer said. “All of my roommates and I have been talking about it and now we’re just confused.”
Fellow UW-Madison sophomore Greg Thomas said he was not surprised MPD canceled Mifflin given the police try to end the event every year. Thomas said he expects this year to be even “crazier,” but perhaps in a different way.
“Everyone knows that it’s going to be canceled so more people are going to be having parties outside of Mifflin instead of on Mifflin,” Thomas said, adding, “People are definitely going to still go [to Mifflin].”
Among the uncertainty, administrators behind the Mifflin Street Block Party 2013 Facebook event page took a more extreme approach, attempting to rally students in a post stating, “We are at a crucial turning point in history and we, the students, have two choices.” To either “step aside” or, “step the f*** up and show the world how Madison has consistently earned our spot in the top five party schools while continuing to excel academically.”
Despite efforts by administrators of the Facebook page, multiple Mifflin Street residents said the 2013 block party will likely be toned down compared to previous years, but said they intend to carry on the tradition while also abiding by MPD’s stricter policies. These policies include staying off the sidewalk when holding an open intoxicant and ensuring music and noise levels do not create a nuisance.
UW-Madison senior and Mifflin Street resident Ryan D., who declined to give his full last name, said the police’s cancellation of the 2013 block party will not deter him from having a party. However, Ryan said he will take more precautions this year than he did when he hosted one last year, such as limiting attendance to his party only to people of legal drinking age.
Ryan said he foresees this year’s cancellation as the beginning of the end, which is why he will be throwing “one last dwindling party.”
“We still have rights; we have a house on Mifflin,” Ryan said, “Long live Mifflin.”
