DE Politics Editor 25

The University should lax Halloween restrictions and co-sponsor a Halloween event next year because students have demonstrated they can take the Strip, have fun and yet be responsible, Carbondale City Councilman Larry Briggs says.

We need an event jointly sponsored by the University and the city, Briggs said. To me there has got to be (an event) because I don’t think the University can stand at arms’ length anymore. They have to join with us.

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Although there were 32 citations ranging from indecent exposure to underage possession on the weekend prior to Halloween, the crowd mostly remained relatively peaceful a stark comparison from last year’s riots during which more than 30 people were arrested and police used Mace on a crowd of unruly rioters.

Numbers of the citations issued this weekend were not available.

Briggs, Undergraduate Student Government President David Vingren, Councilman John Budslick, Graduate and Professional Student Council President Tim Hoerman and Student Trustee Pat Kelly were familiar faces on the Strip both over Halloween weekend and the weekend prior to Halloween.

We went out there with a smile on our face to keep it peaceful and step in if there were any fights, and there were none, Briggs said. I saw one potential fight, and we just jumped in grabbed people and said, Lets keep it cool because the minute trouble starts the police will have to come in.’

So we stepped in and took their bottles and bottle rockets, but did it in a non-confrontational way.

Briggs said that because the students demonstrated responsibility, the 1995 Presidential/Mayoral Task force recommendations should be rescinded. The recommendations included closing down the bars on the Strip and restricting the sale of kegs and alcohol during Halloween weekend.

Why should bars on the Strip be closed to the advantage of others? Briggs asked. In fact, I’d like to see bars open all night. Try causing a riot when you walk out of there at 7 a.m.

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Briggs said he is meeting with SIUC Chancellor Donald Beggs and John Jackson, vice chancellor for Academic Affairs and provost, to discuss the organization of a controlled event co-sponsored by the city and the University.

I think if we can make it through this Halloween, maybe we can make next Halloween a better event by bringing in bands and making it like it was when it was a positive event, he said.

Briggs cited the success of September’s First Cellular’s Main Street Pig Out as an example of an event at which students behaved responsibility.

We have to start planning this (a Halloween event) and get it going, he said. We need to take a chance like the people did with the Pig Out.

They threw the dice and it went off well, and you can’t tell me that with Halloween we can’t do the same. One of the things we proved this year is, by God, we can.

Beggs would not comment on the informally proposed Halloween event until formally approached by City Councilmembers, but said he does not see any University policy changes in the near future.

At the present time I don’t (see any changes), he said. We still have the potential (for violence on the Strip); it just didn’t happen this year.

Although yet undetermined, Beggs said fall break likely will be continued next year. He said he is still compiling input about the break, but that most of those contacted are recommending it be maintained.

Vingren said the University should focus on working with the city to design a spring event similar to the Pig Out rather than a Halloween one. He does not support an organized Halloween party at this time.

If someone wants to turn Halloween into an event, I want to know why, he said. There’s no problem looking into it, but I’d like to see something during the spring.

Let’s worry about that, and concentrate our efforts toward a spring event.

Vingren was one of more than 10 people on the Strip this year trying to maintain a peaceful atmosphere.

On Oct. 24 and Oct. 25, the students and councilmen intervened with people they thought were getting out of control. Some Strip-takers brandished bottle rockets, and some others urged the crowd to march down Mill Street.

It’s always five to 15 people who act stupid, Vingren said. So we would step in, take their bottle rockets or just say, Hey you’re acting stupid.’

Briggs said their presence made a world of difference.

We went out there because we wanted to hopefully make a difference and keep it from getting out of control, but at the same time not destroy anybody’s fun, and I think we did that, he said.

Vingren said the vast majority of people on the Strip the past two weeks sought a peaceful atmosphere.

More and more there is a negative attitude toward Halloween violence on campus, he said. Every year it becomes less acceptable to be a moron out there causing violence.

Briggs anticipates that future Halloweens will be peaceful.

The big difference this year is that everyone was solely intent on having a good time, he said.

Vingren said this is the first step, but that all he wants is to see the Halloween riots of the past forgotten.

I hope SIU, Carbondale and the nation forget about the traditional Halloween at SIU, he said.