Students Behind Bars

A stroll down Main or Chippewa Streets on a Saturday night will reveal hundreds of university students traipsing in and out of bars, expending precious dollars and even more precious brain cells on a few social drinks, sometimes until 4 a.m.

Though not as numerable as those out for a night on the town, there are some students who spend their time behind the bar serving drinks rather than waiting in line to order one.

UB students Chris Pliszka and Jillian Czyz are two of those students.

Chris Pliszka, a senior majoring in geography, is one busy barkeep. On Wednesdays he works at Liar's, Thursdays at Mojo's, Friday's at the Barrel House and Saturdays at SoHo.

MoJo's, a new bar that just opened up on Main Street across from The Steer, is always full of fellow students, according to Pliszka.

"MoJo's is definitely the college scene," said Pliszka. "Everyone seems to be having a good time at the new bar and I like working there."

Julian Czyz, a senior communication and sociology major, works at SoHo, located on West Chippewa Street, and MoJo's Thursday through Saturday.

While her busy schedule doesn't leave much time to go out on weekends, she said the nature of her work provides her with plenty of opportunities to network and socialize.

"I meet a lot of people through bartending," said Czyz. "My roommates will come visit me, and on top of that I meet people who can help me in the real world."

Pliszka, too, sees the social and professional benefits of the job. He said his work has provided him with valuable skills and connections that will be helpful after graduation.

"I minor in international business, so the social skills I get from working at the bar help me out a lot. Bartending gives me a lot of social skills and hands-on experience with people," Pliszka said. "I've been bartending for four years and I have gained more social experience bartending than I would anywhere else."

But while tending bar may be alluring for a few reasons, there are definitely some drawbacks. Czyz said working extremely late hours often interferes with her sleep and the next day's events.

"I don't get home until very early in the morning after bartending, and it is hard to wake up the next day. I have an internship at Alumni Arena on Fridays, and right from there I go back to bartending until 5 a.m. Saturday morning," she said.

But while coordinating nightlife hours into a healthy sleep schedule can be difficult, Pliszka believes he is no worse off than most other college students. Many of these students are keeping late hours at the bar alongside him.

"I'm really not tired all the time and I have friends who have the same sleep schedule I do," said Pliszka. With such late nights, afternoon classes are highly beneficial for students who are bartending their way through college.

"My earliest class is 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays," said Pliszka. "Thursdays can be rough because I do work on Wednesday nights."

Aside from the sleep occasional depravation, Pliszka said he has encountered many other potential detriments to his health while tending bar.

"I am always surrounded by people who want me to drink with them, which isn't always healthy," said Pliszka.

Other difficulties stem from work-induced time constraints.

"I work out as much as I can, but it's also hard to find time to do that with my bartending and school schedule," he said.

When Pliszka, who typically makes about $40 an hour, needs a reminder of why he takes on such a demanding job, a quick look at what his earnings have brought him usually suffices.

"Bartending interferes with school because I don't get home from the bars until around 5 a.m., but I have a nice car and a great apartment, so it's a trade off," said Pliszka.