RAVE PROMOTER MAKES OFFER HE'LL DONATE PROFITS TO FUND FOR DEAD TEEN

A local rave promoter plans to donate profits from this Saturday's dance
party at the Alliant Center to a fund honoring Brett Zweifel, a 16-year-old
West High School student who died in September after overdosing on the drug
Ecstasy.

The young man's father, Michael Zweifel, said Wednesday he wasn't aware of
the offer by Benjamin Rok, proprietor of Eucalyptus, which is holding
Saturday's "Firewalk" dance party.

Zweifel, whose son was found dead Sept. 11 in a parking garage after a rave
party at Madison's Barrymore Theatre, said he has mixed feelings about the
donation.

"Maybe he (Rok) really is trying to do something to spread the word about
how destructive these drugs are," Zweifel said. Then again, "maybe it's
just another excuse to have another rave."

Both Rok and Ted Ballweg, assistant manager of the Alliant Center, said
they're hoping to show that such techno music parties, when held in
well-controlled public venues, can be safe for teen-agers.

Critics say such all-night parties promote the use of illegal drugs,
including Ecstasy, methamphetamines and so-called "date rape" drugs.

As in the past, Rok said Saturday's dance party will have medical staff,
off-duty sheriff's deputies and private security guards on hand. To curb
drug use, all attendees are searched, down to their shoes, and parents are
invited to attend for free, Rok said. He said he's also organizing a group
of young people to pass out anti-drug messages at the party.

Said Ballweg: "We're not naive enough to believe that some kid isn't going
to sneak a tiny pill in. But we will make it very difficult to bring a bag
of pills in."

Zweifel said organizers always claim to have plenty of security.
Nonetheless, when Brett was found asleep outside the Barrymore, Zweifel
said security guards simply shooed him away, an account that the Capitol
Police confirmed.

Said Zweifel: "They asked him if he was on drugs. He said, 'Yes.' They told
him he should get a ride home. What kind of response is that? These are not
very responsible people. Why didn't they call 911?"

However, Steve Sperling, general manager of the Barrymore, said he has no
evidence that security guards ever encountered Brett.

Ballweg said that because of Brett's death, the Alliant Center instructs
its security personnel to seek medical attention "if anybody looks like
they're in distress or having any type of problem" whether or not they're
inside the center.

Both Ballweg and Rok said they fear that if legitimate venues like the
Alliant Center stop holding the all-night parties they'll begin popping up
in uncontrolled places like warehouses and barns. Two weeks ago, a dance
party at the center, formerly the Dane County Exposition Center, drew about
7,000 young people, Ballweg said.

"They come here because it's their scene, their music. It's not a bad
environment," he said. "My fear is that if we don't put these in public
facilities, we will see, unfortunately, a greater opportunity for deaths to
occur."

Asked whether parents should allow their children to attend Saturday's
dance party, Zweifel said: "I don't really have an answer to give you. I
think he (Rok) is trying to do a good thing, but I have such conflicting
feelings."