Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, and Ald. Austin King, District 8, met with students to explain key issues and answer questions at the State of the City arranged by Associated Students of Madison Wednesday evening.
UW-Madison students' major concern, according to Verveer, is drinking, and it was the first issue to be addressed.
\I for one have always thought that the drinking age should be 18, especially with this ridiculous war going on in Iraq where people are dying and they are not even old enough to have a beer legally,"" Verveer said.
According to Wisconsin state law, a person cannot under most circumstances legally be in a bar if they are under age 21. Only in establishments strictly segregated from drinking, such as underage nights at Club Majestic or Madison Avenue, can younger students enter bars.
Over the past year, the mayor's office has been working on the Performing Arts Venue license that would allow for underage students to enter venues where live performances by DJs and bands take place.
""We don't necessarily want to make people drink more, but try to foster live music in our community,"" said Verveer.
The license could take effect as early as July.
Another drinking-related issue addressed by Verveer and Cieslewicz was the annual Halloween bash on State Street, which for the last three years has ended in riots, fires and hundreds of arrests.
""We can't go on this way. $250,000 in expenses, 448 arrests, stuff getting thrown at cops ... There isn't a lot of tolerance left outside of the student wards,"" said Cieslewicz.
Cieslewicz has looked into reducing bar hours, clamping down on alcohol available for house parties or even shutting down the event.
The two main problems, according to the mayor, are the flow of alcohol and the regional character of the event. Only 13 percent of the 448 arrests last year were UW-Madison students.
Another controversial and a more timely event is the Mifflin Street Block Party, traditionally held on the first Saturday in May. With changes in the UW-Madison academic calendar, however, it is scheduled to take place the day before semester finals.
""I don't think that we are going to be able to change the date... it would be pretty expensive,"" said Cieslewicz. ""Life is full of tough choices, so I think that people will figure out a way to have a couple of beers and study.""
During the question-and-answer session, UW-Madison sophomore Mike Westling asked what measures would be taken if thousands of students decided to throw the block party the week-end before May 7.
""Oh, don't do that. It is tradition you know. Mifflin Street Block Party has always been the first Saturday in May and I'd rather we keep it that way,"" said Cieslewicz.
Verveer called for a dialogue with students about the block party, which impacts the Madison police force and the city's taxpayers.
