I'm writing in response to Caitlin Knudsen's May 7 article, ""Mifflin abandons original purpose, loses respectability"" concerning this past weekend's block party. I found it hard to come to grips as to why a freshman wrote an opinion article on the apparent death of the Mifflin Street Block Party.
How can someone condemn something they've never experienced? I agree with some points; the closing of the co-op gives a bit of a different feel. But let's be honest—this thing has had a different feel for the past three decades.
But is Mifflin really dead?
When 10,000 people show up, I think it's hard to claim anything to be deceased. I've lived on the street for two years. The co-op closing meant nothing to me, I thought it was a nice touch to the neighborhood but Willy Street is where the clients have fled.
I'm opposed to the current war that mirrors the one inciting the first Block Party in the '60s, but can't we take a day and put the protest on the backburner? Take one day on this campus and not protest anything? Not picketing Library Mall or jamming a thousand fliers in Bascom Hill to call attention to environmental degradation or sweat shops?
I hate to sound like that film PCU, but can't we all, students and police included, use this day as one last final party? No pointless tickets, no worries, no bullhorns and marching, just spend the day grilling out and relaxing.
Throw some beer in for good measure, of course. Sure there was a revolution undercurrent in the original Miffland blowout, but look at the photos kids, they're all just chilling in the street.
I'm graduating in two weeks. This was my last big fling in college, a send-off to my four years in Madison. Despite the noise violations coming my way (who gives out noise violations on Mifflin anyway?), I know I had a blast.
But on Monday all I read was 10 articles on how Mifflin isn't worth attending anymore. That we've lost our edge. My friends enjoyed themselves, I enjoyed myself, the college bands playing enjoyed themselves (big ups to Northern Light, Ryan Sallis, SOL and The Blend).
So, I think 10,000 people and me don't quite agree with you Miss Knudsen. You want Mifflin to mean something—you do something about it. For the rest of my neighbors, we just wanted to blow off some steam. Sorry if the rest of the campus didn't feel that was needed at this time of year.
