Glug,Glug,

GlugSGA debuts “Pub Nights” allowing students,

faculty and staff to mingle over drinks.

here may not be a designated watering hole on campus, but the Student Gov-ernment Association has begun hosting Pub Night at 5 p.m. on Thursdays in the Rattler Den in the University Center, and it has been receiving good reviews. SGA has hosted three Pub Nights so far – Oct. 29, Nov. 5 and Nov. 12 – and will host another tomorrow evening because the first ones had such good turn outs.

Aramark provides free snacks such as nachos, salsa and mini pretzels at Pub Nights and sells assort-ed beer and wine. Domestic beers including Bud Light, Corona and Smirnoff Ice are $2, wine is $3 and eight ounce beers are $1. There is a constant flow of people coming into the Rattler Den, which is transformed to represent a Pub, Thursday nights from 5 to 10 p.m. – the “Pub’s” official hours. Several bar tables set up around the Rattler Den along with couches and chairs provides students, faculty and staff a comfortable way of gathering with friends and/or professors.

Senior criminology major Jocelyn Robles, who attend all three Pub Nights hosted by SGA, said she enjoyed the opportunity.

“I like it because you don’t have to drive off campus,” Robles said. “You can stay here and then walk to your dorm. And I love using my meal card to buy alcohol. I’m a graduating senior so I wish [Pub Nights] started sooner.”

In a survey of about 153 students, faculty and staff who at-tended the first Pub Night, 151 said they supported the initiative, 99 agreed the Rattler Den is a good location for Pub Nights and 104 agreed Aramark prices were reasonable.

Students may use their meal cards or cash to purchase alcohol on Pub Night. Each person

entering the Pub Night is carded and is given a wristband to purchase alcohol. Students do not have to be 21 in order to attend Pub Night but they may not purchase alcohol

unless they are. Pub Nights reprise a long tradition at St. Mary’s of gather-

ing over a brew on campus for conversation and camaraderie. A generation ago, in what is now the University Ministry building, people gathered regularly for alcohol and snacks in what was known as “The Sub”– a locale recalled fondly by Peter Hansen, executive director of alumni relations.

“To this day [alumni] talk about the Pub,” Hansen said. “It was a great way to socialize.”

Things changed September 1981 when the drinking age in Texas went from 18 to 19, then changed again September 1986, when the drinking age increased to 21. These days, students over 21 make up 2,572 of St. Mary’s total enrollment of 3,899, accord-ing to the Office of Student Development.

Although the age changes undercut “The Sub,” and the cli-entele of support for a free-standing campus bar, according to Kathy Sisoain, vice president of student development, the uni-versity has continued serving alcohol at certain events that have allowed students and faculty to socialize, including Thirsty Thursday and Fall Fest.

According to SGA president Tania Ramirez, the goal of SGA is to re-create the atmosphere alumni director Hansen described.

“[SGA] want[s] to bring more students together to create a more unified St. Mary’s community,” Ramirez said – and Pub Night seems to be having some effect. For example, Michael Losiewicz, associate professor of chemistry, used Pub Night as a time to organize a study group for his students.

“[Pub Night] is a more relaxed atmosphere,” Losiewicz said. “It is beneficial to students in a relaxed setting.”

“Most [of my students] said they walked away with a greater understanding of the course,” Losiewicz added.

SGA president Tania Ramirez said “if we keep getting the same numbers, we will keep doing it next semester if it is profit-able to Aramark and beneficial to students.”

“Having Pub Nights is a dream [SGA] has had and hopefully in the future a reality,” Ramirez said.

TBy Robin Johnson

Senior Staff Writer

The Rattler12

Glug,

The Rattler 13

Pub Night Statistics

Classification of attendeesUndergrad.................................126

Graduate.............................................9Law...........................................................0

Faculty.........................................................3Staff.............................................................12

Alumni.............................................................2Other...................................................................1

Pub Night Questionnaire Results

Which days would you likely attend Pub Night?Monday.......................................................................17Tuesday........................................................................29Wednesday..................................................................51Thursday.....................................................................107Friday..............................................................................61Saturday........................................................................26Sunday...........................................................................13Every Night..................................................................40Which hour would be most convenient for you?10 p.m............................................................................3311 p.m...........................................................................3412 a.m...........................................................................38Later.............................................................................51Do you support Pub Night?Agree......................................................................151Neutral......................................................................6Disagree...................................................................0

Is the Rattler Den a good location?Agree.................................................................99

Neutral.............................................................43Disagree.......................................................14

Are the prices reasonable?Agree.....................................................104

Neutral..................................................43Disagree...........................................10

Source: SGA

Top Left:

Chemistry professor Michael

D. Losiewicz, Ph.D., tutors a group of

students during Pub Night.

Top Right: In order to analyze the demand for

future Pub Nights, SGA asks attendees to fill out

a survey.

Bottom Right: J.B. Bolgren enjoys a refreshment

at Pub Night. Bottom’s up!

Bottom Left: UPD checks IDs of students

who plan to purchase alcohol.

Photos by Robin Johnson

Photo Illustration by Jaime Perez