Every spring semester UW-Madison students spend the last weekend before final exams, typically the first weekend in May, blowing off steam at the Mifflin Street Block Party. However, last year's party encountered scheduling problems because the first week in May was also the weekend before final exams.
Students rallied around the only issue they seem to agree on—alcohol—to urge city officials to support a Mifflin Street Block Party on the last weekend of April instead of the traditional first weekend in May. City officials initially clung to a May date for the Mifflin Street Block Party.
The city narrowly adverted a financial and logistical catastrophe by switching the party date to the last weekend in April at the last moment—saving taxpayers approximately $40,000 in the process.
It was refreshing to see the city council adopt a no glass\ ordinance for April 29 this year. This action is essentially the city council recognizing April 29 as the official day of the Mifflin Street Block Party this year.
As students demonstrated last year and the city council reaffirmed this year, having the Mifflin Street Block Party the last weekend in April is the practical solution monetarily and logistically.
Just like last year, students do not want to wake up the morning after Mifflin and lumber to an important final exam or have the festivities displaced by studying for final exams.
Unlike last year, thankfully, city officials have jumped on the issue early to ensure that the Mifflin Street Block party will be fun and safe this year.
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