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Proposal is considered to bring beer back to Jaybowl

Beer sales were removed in 1998 because of a car accident but the revised proposal is being reviewed in the provost’s office

By Brenna Hawley

Monday, February 11, 2008

A proposal to bring beer sales back to the Jaybowl will go to the provost’s office this month. If approved, alcohol will be sold at the hangout for the first time since 1998.

The proposal would allow 3.2 beer to be sold in the Jaybowl and surrounding Hawk’s Nest area from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Sales would be limited to two beers per person to help prevent intoxication. Jaybowl employees would scan IDs, then give a wristband and fluorescent hand stamp to people over the age of 21.

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KANNSAN FILE PHOTO

Members of the KU bowling team practicing.

Shawn Bowers was a student member of the committee that reviewed the proposal and is the director of public relations for Student Union Activities, which runs alcohol-free activities for University students. He said he wasn’t thrilled with the idea initially, but with the restrictions in place to prevent under-age drinking, he now supported the proposal.

“It’s more about creating an environment where students and professors can come and relax,” Bowers said. “It would be another option for a mature campus audience.”

The proposal said that anyone found drinking underage would be removed from the Kansas Union immediately. It also said that information about campus services like SafeRide would be posted.

Tim Fields, Lincoln, Neb. senior, works at Jaybowl and thinks beer sales would draw people into the bowling alley and the Union.

He said the bowling alley was often full on Friday and Saturday nights, but on weeknights there were empty lanes. The two-drink maximum would make it a place to hang out and bowl.

“I don’t think it would be a place for people to come and get drunk,” Fields said.

Aly Rodee, Senate executive secretary and another member of the committee reviewing the proposal, said there wasn’t really a place in Lawrence to go that was like what they were proposing.

“We want it to be a learning atmosphere that shows having one drink is okay,” Rodee said.

Ashley Bloom, Hutchinson senior, said that by allowing beer in moderation, the University would be encouraging responsible drinking.

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Four other Big 12 schools sell alcohol on their campuses.

Colorado — 3.2 beer sales

Kansas State — 3.2 beer sales

Iowa State — full beer sales with wine coolers at select performances

Texas —full alcohol service

“By eliminating alcohol from campus, it increases the abuse of it,” Bloom said.

Bloom said that being of age and enjoying a beer when hanging out isn’t bad, but she has a younger sister who is a freshman at the University and isn’t old enough to drink yet.

“I’m not going to go to a bar with my sister,” Bloom said.

She said if the Jaybowl sold beer, she would go there to hang out with her sister and her sorority sisters.

Dustin Luthro, Olathe junior, said he doesn’t go to the Jaybowl often, but if they sold beer it would make the atmosphere of the alley better.

“It would be a good attraction, but I wouldn’t go just for the beer,” Luthro said.

Because the University would not have a liquor license, Jaybowl would sell 3.2 beer, which is a lower alcohol content than beer that can be bought in liquor stores in Kansas.

Beer sales were removed in 1998 when a KU student killed student Lisa Rosel in a hit-and-run accident. Both were under the influence.

Steve Munch, 2005 student body president, led initiative to bring beer back to the Union. Marlesa Roney, vice provost for student success, denied the proposal then, but is now taking it to the provost’s office.

Lynn Bretz, director of University communications, said the proposal has not made it to Provost Richard Lariviere. She said he would take the proposal into careful consideration when he sees it.

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