As many of you may have already seen or heard CNI released research-based strategies to reduce downtown drunkenness and related crime and violence. Here is the link to that document http://www.capitolneighborhoods.org/pdf/CNIAlcReptFINAL2008.pdf.
As a native to Wisconsin and someone who grew up in a Milwaukee suburb; I think the situation could be a lot worse, but I think we can all agree there is a problem. It is important to be imformed that the city, police, and community members are very aware that this problem encompasses much more than the UW-Students and the UW Campus in general. The CNI Executive Committee minutes from past meetings can be found at http://www.capitolneighborhoods.org/about_us/executive.html.
The question to ask yourselves is how can we take the focus off of students, are there things we can do, are there things we cannot do? What do you think about the strategies and what do you think, if implemented, will be the effect on the community and city? I encourage everyone to answer these questions and send me an e-mail of what you think. This will be a good opportunity for your thoughts to reach the EC of CNI.
jpavlic@wisc.edu
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3 comments:
As a student, it is a bit challenging to look at the CNI report and not can angry, especially if you believe you do know the consquences of alcohol (perhaps have witnessed them first-hand) and don't believe you are a disturbance. The CNI report may seem like a bunch of old people who dont like to drink complaining. However, their message (while very unrealistic)should not go completely unnoticed. It is a very strong effort to change the way we all in this city, county, state consume alcohol. It's a culture of binge drinkers. And while Madison's night life is great for it, the health consequences are inevitable. I think CNI is trying to promote a new way of thinking here and trying to push for change. That's why this report is actually a new way of looking at alcohol because it's so extreme.
On the way other hand, this report and its benchmarks are completely unrealistic. MPD and UWPD are not going to double quotas or change their policy for underagers.
That institutional change is not feasible nor possible. BUT I commend them for challenging the way we all nonchalantly let alcohol affect our lives.
Thank you for your comment, and I will pass this along to CNI.
I think you bring up very important points when thinking about how to combat problems associated with drinking downtown Madison.
In fairness, I am a graduate student and am not as active in some aspects of local socializing as undergrads. However, I was an undergrad at a large public univ. and the truth was that I and many of my peers were repeatedly irresponsible or unsafe regarding alcohol.
For what it's worth... I don't have any thoughts to comments on particular policies, but -- as general input -- I feel that all students could take a moment to consider that we are part of a larger community and we should accept certain responsibilities to neighbors and peers. So, unless students are being entirely singled out and no other groups are receiving attention, I hope that concerns about "taking focus off students" don't prevent us from partnering with people who genuinely mean well (and just might have some valid points).
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