New Nightlife at the Juice Bar

Author: Christopher Atwood

Concerned about an increase in local D.U.I violations, the Student Government Association (SGA) recently devised an initiative aimed at enticing students of age to stay on campus. To counter the draw of off-campus social events, which could raise the likelihood of drunk driving, the SGA has petitioned the Grille to consider more student ideas, increase programming options and offer a wider selection of drafts at competitive prices.
Though initially wary of revamping The Juice Bar into a "pub-like" atmosphere, SGA President Ginny Hunt '03 says that few other spaces on campus were suitable for serving alcohol. The initiative, stressed Hunt, will be "on trial" during the coming months as the College evaluates how students feel about the changes and monitors the effects on alcohol citations and student behavior.
"We are taking all feedback seriously and there has not been a negative response so far," said Hunt, "but I want to remind students that this is really a community policy that is open to modification, and they should definitely give their opinions."
Under the policy changes, performances will be allowed between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Later in the evenings, the lights will be dimmed and the volume turned up a notch. The price of Otter Creek drafts, previously $3.25, has been cut to $2.50, which is comparable to those of downtown Middlebury bars. Additionally, The Juice Bar bartender will now be able to set individual drink limits, similar to local drinking establishments. Instead of selling only Otter Creek, the varieties of beer will rotate, highlighting Vermont's microbreweries, according to Grille Manager Steve Reigle.
Reigel stressed that, as the students' social space, The Grille must balance and satisfy a variety of needs, creating an environment that does not exclude anyone.
"The Grille has to suit a number of demands. There are a lot of students who would want to have a pub-like space on campus. Then again, there is a significant slice of the student body that is underage. What we're forced to do is engage both of these needs," Reigel said. "It's important that The Grille continue to function for our regular customers who aren't here for a pub-night. We're trying to never exclude any single group. While we could do 21 and over, that would exclude more students than that would include. Both of these claims need to co-exist in the same space."
As part of her SGA presidential campaign, Hunt mulled over the idea of converting Lower Proctor into a pub. At the time, the dining hall was going offline and had yet to be allocated for other purposes. Ultimately, the College offered Lower Proctor to the Theater department, causing Hunt to reconsider other potential venues. After weighing the options with the administration, Hunt concluded that few spaces could accommodate a "pub."
The Grille was already serving alcohol. Indeed, according to Hunt, some in the administration were behind changing The Grille, in part, to satisfy the demands of pub. Starting this fall, the SGA began assessing the feasibility of any policy shifts designed to change the Grille's ambiance.
"We did a small survey to see how [students] would feel about changes. Also, because the SGA office is in McCullough, I would stop by a few times a night between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. to see how The Grille was being used. More often than not, few people were in The Grille, and students rarely drank there," said Hunt.
In order to test the response to the new policies, in the upcoming months, the SGA will host or co-host four events at The Grille. Free pizza sticks will accompany a McCullough dance party the SGA plans to sponsor with MCAB this weekend. Additionally, the SGA has planned an alumni and student event to be held March 8.
Reigel was quick to note that, though part of the shift is designed to open up The Grille to students who wish to drink on campus, a major goal still is to draw in a wide-variety of students and groups.
The Grille, Reigel said, should be available to meet students' shifting demands, whether that be catering to co-sponsored events or individual customers.
"The Grille is a student space. What students wanted four years ago and today may be different. We are seeking to open up the space for just about anything. There are a lot more events that would be great for The Grille. If you want to hold your event in The Grille, come in and talk to us."