All too often, the political process seems out of reach for today's college student. With little money to donate to campaigns and even less free time to spend keeping up with legislation, students often struggle to be active participants in a vibrant democracy. Yet what many students fail to realize is that our voice can be heard, and our efforts can make our campus a far better place. On Sept. 18, the Madison City Council will be debating the Alcohol License Density Plan, a proposal that would limit the number of bars in the campus and downtown areas. I encourage all of you to stop by the meeting next Tuesday to share your concerns with the council. We are fortunate that Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, has been working tirelessly to see that this proposed ordinance is defeated, but he needs our support to convince the rest of his colleagues. Aside from the impulsive negative reaction, there are many legitimate reasons to oppose this idea. First, the density plan will not serve its intended purpose to curtail alcohol-related crime. In regard to the proposal, Mr. Judge said, "I think it will hurt students by pushing density into unsafe and unlicensed house parties." He is absolutely right. Some of the most dangerous places to drink are not bars; they are house parties with too many people crammed into crowded basements and on teetering balconies. The plan, if passed, will exacerbate this effect at the expense of student safety. It is also geographically restrictive. It prevents new alcohol licenses from being issued in certain places, but in other areas, a new bar could open without a hassle literally across the street from a restricted area. How can the council expect potential tavern owners from taking advantage of the policy's limitations? The end result will be a new regulation that will do little or nothing to accomplish its goals. This past weekend is a perfect illustration of what the density plan will bring to campus. As the Kollege Klub was closed for violations committed in spring, other bars noticeably picked up some of the slack. Lines were longer and people more restless, but not everyone went to the bars. Many of the KK regulars instead chose to go to house parties, which, while fun, pose much more serious safety problems than bars. Let's be honest here, what is the real goal behind the density plan? Is it to limit the number of alcohol-related acts of violence, or to quiet down those "rowdy college students" for the older folks in condos? If the goal is to simply limit students' accessibility to alcohol, allow history to provide us a sobering lesson: See the 18th Amendment regarding prohibition and the 21st Amendment regarding its repeal. So if the density plan isn't the answer, what can we do to promote safety on campus? Truthfully, the responsibility lies with each one of us. In the end, we have to get out into our neighborhoods and make them the great places we want them to be. The Associated Students of Madison's new neighborhood watch initiative is a great place to start, and it's something the College Democrats fully support. Along with Mr. Judge, they have been promoting an alternative to the density plan that will truly make downtown safer. "The Neighborhood Watch Programs are a very positive step for safety," Mr. Judge added. "Those are the things the city should be supporting." Even when the cards seem stacked against us, we still can make a difference, and it all starts right here on campus. I encourage you to get involved in the political process and take a stand against the density plan. The City Council meeting will be next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council building (210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.). Every student who voices his or her opposition is someone who will feel the effects of the density plan directly, and the council must weigh that properly. Oliver Kiefer ([email protected]) is chair of the College Democrats.