The day the announcement was made about the recreated MayFest, students began pledging their disapproval and desire to continue the traditional block party on Euclid Avenue, creating a Facebook event entitled “MAYFEST – Walnut Park can s**k my ba**s, I’m getting wasted on EUCLID!!!!!” that garnered 2,676 as of Sunday night.

‘This event was created 20 hours ago, there’s 1,362 guests confirmed,” said Michael Devinsky, the event’s creator, on the event’s wall. “I’m thinking we’re on a good pace for throwing a rager.”

After Student Association and University Union’s announcement Wednesday for the university-sanctioned day, many students have expressed interest in continuing to throw parties along Euclid. But outside of the group, some students said they are glad an alternative party was created in Walnut Park.

MayFest 2010 was planned by SA and UU in collaboration with the administration, in order to create a day for students separate from SU Showcase, which will be held April 19. Classes will still be held on both days, but Syracuse University has sanctioned and provided for a celebration in Walnut Park on April 30, including free food, live music and free beer for students over the age of 21.

“I think all the seniors will go to Euclid,” said Michelle Smith, a senior in the College of Human Ecology.

Krystin Paci, also a senior in the College of Human Ecology, said she would go to Walnut Park if she lived closer but will probably go to Euclid.

Several students have gone to SA President Jon Barnhart with concerns and questions regarding the alternative party in Walnut Park, Barnhart said.

“I think the biggest misunderstanding is that this is student-planned,” Barnhart said. “People are talking about this being an administrative overhaul, but it’s very much an SA and UU thing.”

In addition to worries about the administration’s interference, the biggest complaint Barnhart has heard about MayFest is the relocation from Euclid to Walnut Park, he said.

MayFest was moved to Walnut Park in order to protect students from getting in trouble with the police by partying on Euclid, Barnhart said.

Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner sent an e-mail to students who live off campus Wednesday, reminding them that Syracuse police will be cracking down on all students violating noise and open-container ordinances on Euclid. SA, UU and the administration were aware of the strict law enforcement in the Euclid area on MayFest and wanted to offer an alternative to prevent students from facing the consequences of the law, Barnhart said.

Many of the concerns brought forth by students are things SA and UU brought up to the administration during planning, Barnhart said.

One concern involved roping off a section specifically for students over 21 to drink alcohol, Barnhart said. Events supported by the school cannot provide beer unless more than 75 percent of the students attending are over 21. By roping off a portion of the park for the distribution of beer, there is a guarantee that 100 percent of the students in that section are of legal age.

Despite the high number of students who plan to continue MayFest on Euclid, other students said they are happy there will be a university-sanctioned celebration.

“I’m kind of glad it’s been moved to the park,” said Tess Bonn, a senior English and textual studies major. “It’s a more comfortable environment with more room. You don’t have drunk people bumping into you all the time.”

Ellie Engstrom, a freshman theater design and technology major, said she is glad she gets to experience some form of MayFest.

“Being a freshman, I’ve never had this experience before. So I really don’t know what to expect from MayFest, but the concept seems to be a very good idea,” she said. “It would be a very fun thing to do.”

Engstrom heard that in the past, MayFest was a wild block of parties out in the open, which isn’t as safe as the enclosed party on Walnut Park this year, she said.

Andrew Carlson, a sophomore television, radio and film major, said he thinks students will party however they want, but the new party in Walnut Park is not a bad thing.

“I’m probably going to take advantage of whatever SU has. I’m just excited for free food and activities,” Carlson said.

Barnhart said the party on MayFest is the result of student representatives like himself pushing to reinstate a day for students, rather than lose MayFest completely.

“The people who are unhappy about this are people who forget we’re students and have experienced MayFest,” Barnhart said. “It’s upsetting when students think we, as other students, don’t have them in mind.”

Published on April 11, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Contact Laurence: lgleveil@syr.edu | @lgleveille