By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Noting last year’s event went anything but swimmingly, organizers behind Spring Splash have decided to pull the plug on their college-geared event in Whitewater — at least for this year.
Since 2013, a for-profit company known as Wisconsin Red has organized a Spring Splash event in Whitewater at some point in April.
The first three years of the program went off without a hitch, but on the date of last year’s festivities, the city was transformed into a scene some people have characterized as mob-like and filled with chaos and disruption.
City Manager Cameron Clapper discussed the status of Spring Splash this year at a Common Council meeting Feb. 7, and revealed Wisconsin Red has withdrawn plans to hold an event this year, which was slated for April 29.
Clapper’s announcement drew polarized comments from the council, with some members saying this unfairly stigmatizes the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater study body and others asserting greater controls need to be in place for college-themed parties.
Clapper said he and other city staffers met with Wisconsin Red representatives, including owner Steve Farina, early this month, and it was at that time that the company announced it would not proceed with Spring Splash this year.
“Mr. Farina confirmed his intentions to cancel Wisconsin Red’s involvement in the weekend event, due to the negative impact that the event, along with subsequent house parties, had on the Whitewater community,” Clapper said.
Throughout the recent discussion of Spring Splash’s future in Whitewater, Clapper and other city officials have been quick to point out Wisconsin Red itself was not behind last year’s incidents, which overtaxed the Whitewater Police Department and caused disruption in a number of public areas.
City officials frequently attribute the root cause of last year’s problems to ancillary house parties that drew young adults from outside the UW-Whitewater community. Similar parties could still take place this year on April 29, even though Spring Splash is not taking place.
As she recounted last year’s incident at the recent council meeting, Police Chief Lisa Otterbacher described it as one of the most challenging days in her more than 25 years in law enforcement.
“How nobody died last year is a gift,” Otterbacher said.
In an effort to be proactive, rather than reactive, Clapper said he and other city staffers — including police personnel — are staying abreast of any plans for large-scale parties in the community this spring.
“Staff will continue to make preparations for the April 29 weekend, as other house parties are still expected to occur,” Clapper said. “No city facilities, including parks, will be used to accommodate the Spring Splash event or any similar event.”
Council member Stephanie Goettl, who is a former UW-Whitewater student, said she was disheartened to hear Wisconsin Red was canceling Spring Splash and expressed concern negative situations could be even greater this year.
“As soon as people heard on the rumor mill that Spring Splash was canceled, they started planning other large-scale parties,” Goettl said. “Wisconsin Red’s party was not the problem. It was well-controlled, and they cleaned up when they were done.”
But fellow council member Chris Grady maintained a different perspective.
“This is not anti-student,” Grady said of the scenario at hand. “This is anti-mob and anti-insanity.”
