Administration officials proposed the construction of an on-campus bar at the Faculty Senate Executive Committee meeting last Wednesday, touting the effort as a solution to the oft-repeated problem of drunk driving among college students.
"An on-campus bar may be the panacea we've been searching for all this time," said UB President William R. Greiner to the assembled crowd. "No longer will students be forced to choose between driving intoxicated home from Main Street or Chippewa and forking over the money for a taxi or waiting in the cold for the sometimes unreliable 'drunk buses.'"
Instead, Greiner proposed, the school would offer shuttle buses, much like the ones currently ferrying students between the apartments and the academic spine, which would regularly carry students from the on-campus bar to the dorms or apartments.
"Think of the infinite possibilities," Vice President for Student Affairs Dennis Black said. "Rather than attempting to navigate the Western New York transportation system after a night of excess, students could merely stumble home to South Lake, Red Jacket or Flint, protecting themselves and others from the dangers of DWI."
Students seemed generally enthusiastic about the plan. "Boozing it up with my profs? That seems like a great idea," said Jeremy Williamson, a junior economics major. "What a great way to boost your GPA."
Peter Sterling, a senior electrical engineering major, said he did not think the bar would curb drunk driving, however. "I would probably drive to the on-campus bar anyhow," he said. "I mean, I drive to the Spine from Hadley every day."
Several faculty and staff members voiced a concern that the administration's endorsement of an on-campus bar would condone drinking among college students, thereby exacerbating the problem.
"At least when [drinking] is done off campus, we are freed from any responsibility for it," said one staffer, who asked that his name be withheld. "The old adage, 'if we don't see it, it didn't happen,' holds true here."
Other individuals feared the bar would serve alcohol to minors, a liability issue as well as a violation of the university's role as guardian of its students.
"Underage drinkers can go to Pajama Bottoms or Canada, they shouldn't be able to drink on their way to class," said Susanna Bodin, an adjunct professor in the UB School of Social Work.
Administrators assured concerned parents, faculty and staff that the on-campus bar would cater solely to the over-21 crowd.
"Dennis (Black) and I will personally be on-hand at the bar every day of the weekend - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday," said Greiner. "We will be checking UB cards diligently and if any underage person attempts to gain access to the bar, the full force of the Student Wide Judiciary, the University Police and the Amherst Police Department will be employed."
"The bar will give students the opportunity to hang out with the movers and shakers of UB," said Black. "Over a shot, a pint or a bottle, students will be more apt to convey their feelings honestly. This one-on-one removal of inhibition will hopefully provide the valuable feedback we at the top of the UB totem pole are always looking for through surveys, Web polls and other ineffective means of reaching the student populace."
The location of the bar, slated to be built on one of the UB "regeneration" sites on the perimeter of campus, was a major source of contention for some, particularly members of the UB Environmental Task Force.
"The regeneration areas are not just mere plots of brown grass speckled with a few trees, like many students and apparently the administration believes," said Walter Simpson, UB's energy officer and ETF member. "The protected areas are home to flora and fauna that would be endangered by flying beer bottles and projectile vomit."
"Besides," Simpson said, "The new blue signs identifying the regeneration areas, which cost millions of dollars, validate their importance."
The administration argued that the remote location of the regeneration area made it the ideal site for an on-campus bar. "The remaining trees will dampen the sound of clinking glasses and pumping music," said Black.
According to university policy, regeneration areas are "off-limits to development unless it is demonstrated that development serves a critical university need and that an acceptable alternative does not exist."
"I think we've finally found a critical university need to put these patches of green space to use," said Greiner. "Talk about 'sustainable development,' this bar takes that ideal to new heights."
As for UB students not yet the magic age, Ed Brodka, director of the Leadership Development Center, has promised to furnish plenty of "good clean fun" for the university's minors. "The center will host parties featuring 'mock-tails' and 'mock-tinis' to teach students to drink responsibly so they are prepared when the big 21 comes," Brodka said.
