Feedback sought on game-day environment

Responding to complaints about fan behavior in and around Camp Randall Stadium — especially verbal and physical confrontations with opposing fans — UW–Madison officials are inviting suggestions on how to address the problem.

Officials are asking students, alumni, faculty, staff and members of the Madison community to keep their eyes open at Saturday’s home finale against the University of Iowa and to e-mail their suggestions to fans@news.wisc.edu.

“There’s been a positive response by the community on this issue, and we’d like to strengthen it by providing another avenue for Badger fans to join the discussion,” says Dean of Students Luoluo Hong. “We’ve identified a problem. Now we’re committed to working together to find sensible solutions.”

Students groups and university officials met this week to begin talking about suggestions but, since the problem is much more broad-based, university officials want to gather ideas from the general public, as well.

“We want our fans to be passionate and enthusiastic when they cheer the Badgers on to victory,” Hong says. “But we can do that while still showing basic respect for our opponents and their fans.”

Officials are also asking fans at basketball, hockey and other sporting events to share ideas that would encourage a more welcoming tone both for Badger backers and opposing fans.