Free beer tapped out at Grille Pub Nights

Author: Sonja Pedersen-Green

When Pub Night resumes next Thursday, Middlebury students will see a restructured program that no longer includes free drinks for students of legal drinking age. The popular two free beers at Pub Night will be replaced with college-subsidized food and drink specials, according to Middlebury College Activities Board (MCAB) student leaders. The focus, rather than being on free drinks, will shift to live music and other forms of entertainment.

MCAB Grille Co-Chairs Kacie Sherman '07 and Micah Gurard-Levin '07 said that this restructuring of Pub Night reflects MCAB's desire to provide entertainment for the entire college community and not just the over-21 crowd.

"MCAB's baseline responsibility for the College is to provide programming for all students, she said. "Pub Nights provide a social, safe atmosphere for people of all ages, and though drink specials are a perk, the purpose of the event is to showcase music at no cost to attendees and to offer students a large-scale social situation."

In lieu of free beer, MCAB hopes students will attend the events for the musical entertainment and the "high-quality products that are reduced in price for of-age attendees," according to Sherman.

"We like to think that at least some of the allure of Pub Nights is the great music, great atmosphere and cool raffle giveaways," said Gurard-Levin.

Sherman says that the portion of the budget that used to be allotted for beer can now go to programs, such as the raffle which will benefit the whole college community. "Last year one of our prizes was free round-trip flights," she said. "We want to continue with raffles of that standard."

Sherman and Gurard-Levin also noted that last year, the amount of students who received drink specials was limited due to budget constraints. "By spring of last year, our budget had been drained and then some," said Gurard-Levin, "Therefore we limited the number of students that could take advantage of Pub Night to about 100, when 250 students were showing up." The Grille co-chairs noted that the new format will allow as many students who come to drink at the subsidized cost.

Sherman said that entrance to Pub Night will be free and that students will have to pay only if they chose to purchase the drink and food specials available. Sherman stressed the price for those who chose to drink will be nominal. "The price [of drinks] will be comparable to equivalent drinks at other venues," she said.

Last year, when the College was offering drink specials to students, some local bars and restaurants complained that Pub Night threatened their business on Thursday nights. Despite these complaints, MCAB leaders said that the decision to make Pub Night void of drink handouts reflects their budget constraints and not the complaints of local businesses.

"There were many factors that led to the decision to refocus Pub Nights on programming for the entire student body, including restructuring the budget of the MCAB Grille Committee while continuing to provide the same Pub Night atmosphere that students enjoyed last year," said Gurard-Levin

Sherman said that at the end of last year, when the administration, MCAB and Grille management reviewed Pub Night's budget, "All parties agreed that it was in the best interest of the College, the goals of Pub Night, and the future of Pub Nights to subsidize drinks as opposed to providing free beverages."

"The decision reflects the needs and desires of the administration, MCAB and the entire college community [not that of local businesses]," Guard-Levin said. Angela's Pub, a local Middlebury business, was not available for comment.

MCAB does not expect the change in format to drastically impact attendance. Gurard-Levin said, "We think students will realize what we have to offer and realize that for a few dollars, they can't get that anywhere else, at any college, bar, or club."

Sherman said, "We aren't naive on MCAB. We know that people aren't going support this decision immediately… For a pittance, Pub Night is going to offer a whole lot more socialization than a dorm room and we are offering giveaways that overshadow the cost of a drink by 100-fold."

Gurard-Levin said that Pub Nights offerings far outweigh those of the competition. "I can honestly say that if I had the opportunity to see a great band play for free, with free food giveaways and a chance to win free prizes such as a pair of skis, I would not mind paying a few dollars to have a drink with friends," he said. "I don't think there is any other venue in our area that provides all of this."

Not all students were happy with MCAB's decision. Lisa Zaval '07, who was old enough to attend Pub Night last year said, "I think it was great that the College offered students the opportunity to learn to drink responsibly at Pub Night last year and I think it's a shame that students will have to pay for that service this year."

Mark Egan '08 said, "I think it's a shame because fewer students will attend and then it won't be as fun."

For younger students, however, the once-free Pub Nights posed problems of its own. Steve Gordon '08 supports the decision. "I think it's good because I don't want Middlebury paying for beer I can't drink anyway," he said.

Sherman said that she expects students will learn to like the new Pub Night, even if they do have to pay. "Personally," she said, "I think the price is small and that students are going to get over the change as soon as they enter the event."