This year's District 8 alder hopefuls squared off Thursday night in a Q&A-style debate held in the Red Gym. Candidates Eli Judge and Lauren Woods, both UW students, spoke on a number of student-centered topics.
The most debated subject was safety on and near the UW-Madison campus. Both candidates have recognized student concern and drafted detailed proposals outlining their plans for safety.
Judge's plan stresses increased campus patrol groups, pressuring local landlords to invest in better outside lighting for their facilities and an online reporting system for victims of sexual assault.
Judge proposed a ""Campus Watch Program,"" which he said would involve teams of students wearing designated apparel while patrolling the campus area. He said this program would create ""a visible presence to deter violence on the street.""
Judge said the program would work closely with the Langdon and Neighborhood Watch Programs already in existence.
Woods also outlined her safety plan, addressing similar concerns.
She said she wants to incorporate city-funded, large pedestrian-scale lighting, door-lock ordinances on rental properties and ""performing arts venue licenses"" that would allow underage students to enter bars and clubs to enjoy off-campus weekend events, such as concerts.
Woods recognized a big safety concern for students is sexual assault. However, she said UW's 2006 statistics show the frequency of ""acquaintance assault"" makes the problem too complicated to be solved by simply putting more watch programs on the street.
""I think that it's not as easy as saying, ‘We want more people patrolling the streets,' because most women are not raped in the streets, they're raped in their bedrooms by people they know.""
Woods proposed a ""comprehensive and sensitive"" plan to curb such incidences of sexual assault.
Because sexual assault and other nighttime crimes are often linked to poorly lit areas, each candidate went into detail about specific plans for increased campus lighting.
Judge suggested the City Council pressure or mandate area landlords to privately invest in better lighting outside their properties. He said this would lift the financial strain off the city and taxpayers while also increasing campus lighting.
Woods did not agree with Judge's proposal, arguing it is the city's responsibility to keep its citizens safe.
Judge criticized her pedestrian-scale lighting proposal for being too expensive. However, Woods stood by it, saying it is a surefire way to illuminate campus streets.
Other topics of debate ranged from the Madison-Rafah Sister City Project to environmental and transportation issues and possible reforms of campus-area entertainment venues.
