A meeting held by a planning group for the Mifflin Street Block Party to discuss changes and gain feedback on the upcoming event saw low turnout from students Tuesday.
The student planning group advertised the meeting through a Facebook event. Of the 357 people invited on the event page, 57 said they would attend, but only six students actually attended the meeting.
Planning group member Maria Giannopoulos said the low turnout was consistent with a survey on Mifflin distributed by the Associated Students of Madison that found while many students plan to attend the block party, only 20 percent said they would help organize the event.
The planning group explained changes to increase student safety at Mifflin including removing an open liquor container rule, which means prohibiting open alcohol containers on the street, and beginning the block party later in the day.
“I think the changes will be more beneficial just because it will create a safer atmosphere for [students],” Giannopoulos said. “It will make people want to go to Mifflin.”
Additionally, the group is looking for a sponsor to endorse the event. A sponsor is required to obtain a street-use permit, which allows Mifflin Street to be blocked off for the event.
If a street-use permit is not acquired, the Madison Police Department plans to break up any gatherings on Mifflin Street, whether alcohol is present or not.
The 2012 Mifflin Street Block Party will take place May 5.
