Date Change
The block party occurred on the first Saturday of May every year until 2005, when University of Wisconsin–Madison students lobbied to have the date changed to the last Saturday in April to avoid conflicts with finals. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz refused the date change at first, citing the additional cost and strain it would place on the city's police force. After students vowed to throw a large celebration both weekends, the mayor agreed to move the date of the block party with a promise from student leaders that they would discourage celebrations on the first week in May. However, the mayor requested that the Associated Students of Madison pay for the additional costs of moving the date. The 2005 event was considered one of the calmest on record, with 225 arrests and 317 citations, including the arrest of the University of Wisconsin football team's running back, Booker Stanley. The block party was scheduled for Saturday, April 29 by city officials in 2006. The 2007 party marked a move back to the traditional first Saturday of May and the 2008 party was scheduled for Saturday, 3 May 2008. The 2009 block party occurred on May 2. The 2010 block party happened on May 1. The 2011 party was on April 30, and the 2012 party was on May 5.
Read more about this topic: Mifflin Street Block Party
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