In just 16 days, the first unofficial day of Halloween weekend ââ?¬â? Thursday, October 27 ââ?¬â? will be upon us. Starting that day, and extending for some 72 hours, Madison will be gripped by an influx of masked, oftentimes inebriated revelers in search of one of Americaââ?¬â?¢s foremost public parties. And, frankly, no one quite knows what to expect.
For the past three years, the event has come to a harsh ending in the morningââ?¬â?¢s pre-dawn hours as tear gas, drunken mobs and police donning riot gear have merged on State Street. The public is being assured that this year will be different. And the city as well as the University of Wisconsin has clearly gone out of its way to ensure that the public has a loud voice in determining just how that will be so. Committees have met, leaders have voiced their opinions and preliminary policies ââ?¬â? including school dorm restrictions ââ?¬â? have already been announced.