Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Video
Renew KU promises beer in Jaybowl
Renew KU promises to bring beer and bowling back together at the Jaybowl if elected in April's Student Senate elections. KUJH-TV's Hannah Davis has more.
Beer and bowling.
A little more than 10 years ago, the two activities used to be synonymous when one thought of Jaybowl.
Now, the Senate coalition Renew KU wants to bring the two activities back together.
Bringing beer back to the Jaybowl is one of Renew KU’s platform issues for the upcoming Student Senate elections.
Presidential candidate Casey Briner and vice-presidential candidate Josh Dean said a plaque in the Kansas Union with the phrase “With the fondest hopes beer will return to the Union” inspired the platform.
“It’d be a win-win for everybody,” Briner said. “And it’s also feasible.”
Jaybowl bowling lanes, located on level one of the Union, served alcohol until 1998 when an off-campus accident involving two students prompted then-chancellor Robert Hemenway to prohibit the sale of alcohol on campus.
A plaque with a bottle opener that hangs outside the Jaybowl in a corner of the Hawk's Nest at the Kansas Union inscribes the words, "With fondest hope for beer service in the Unions at some future date." KU Renew hopes to bring beer and bowling back together with their campaign. Beer has been excluded from the Memorial Unions for more than 10 years.
A proposal to reinstate the serving of beer in Jaybowl and the Hawks Nest in 2006 passed the Memorial Corporation Board but was not approved by the University administration.
Briner, a junior from Flower Mound, Texas, said with a different provost and administration it is time to try again.
Renew KU will use the same proposal from 2006 for their request.
According to the proposal, the Jaybowl would provide service from 2 to 10 p.m daily with two to three standard brands of 3.2 beer on tap. Food would be served the entire time and students and customers would be limited to two drinks.
Students and customers 21 and older would wear wristbands and be brandished with fluorescent ink stamps to distinguish themselves from others when drinking.
Dean, a sophomore from Overland Park, said the drink limit, lack of pitchers and drink specials would discourage students from drinking in excess.
Burton Gepford, manager of Jaybowl, said his only concern with the sale of beer would be safety but added that that is with any establishment.
“It would definitely bring more traffic,” Gepford said. “Just need someone to advocate for it.”
Briner and Dean said Union administrators and board members appear receptive to the concept.
David Mucci, the director of the Union, said given the history of beer on campus the request is not an inappropriate one.
“I don’t think it’s unreasonable,” Mucci said. “But it would have to go through a process and the necessary levels of approval.”
Dean said neither him nor Briner have spoken with University administrators or provost Jeffrey Vitter yet because he doesn’t feel it is their place to do so until elected.
Justin Hitt, a junior from Shawnee and Renew KU campaign manager, said if approved beer could be served next year.
Briner said the service would also bring more students to the Union and make it a greater hub on campus. Briner said Renew KU is not trying to promote underage drinking but instead moderation and safety.
Dean said the image he thinks the University needs to portray is one of having a realistic and safe approach to alcohol.
“I don’t think its possible or realistic to portray no alcohol on campus,” Dean said. “What we can do is portray teaching students of age to drink in a responsible manner and removing the dangerous environment.”
— Edited by Brittany Nelson
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Comments
Renew KU coalition hopes to bring beer back to Jaybowl
Sad to see Mucci backing off his previous enthusiasm to make this happen, and joining ranks with Roney, KU PSO, and the rest of the naysayers.
Honestly, this is one of the MOST responsible thing campus leaders ("adults" included) can do. We NEED outlets and models for responsible drinking on KU's campus. It will be unpopular with some parents, it will be villianised in local media, and it may have some negative financial repercussions-- but sometimes you have to stand up and do the RIGHT THING.
The alcohol related deaths on campus aren't happening in midst of someone bowling, or eating, or engaging in any activity other than direct binge drinking. And no amount of counseling or seminars is going to change this culture until the University steps up and offers a positive outlet to properly enjoy a drink.
Renew KU coalition hopes to bring beer back to Jaybowl
As a non-drinker and someone who goes to Jaybowl nearly every Friday and Saturday night, I hope this doesn't happen. Ever since moving to Lawrence I've been crushed with the "drink here!" and "cheap alcohol here!" signs around campus, and town. It's even in the paper for crying out loud. I enjoy my time at Jaybowl where there are no influences for me, or others to drink. I also like seeing people are able to bring their families and younger siblings into it without being bombarded by drinking college kids.
Try bowling at Royal Crest Lanes, not drinking with a group of friends, and try to enjoy yourself during cosmic bowling. It's difficult because of how much the alcohol flows there.
Besides, if they offer beer at Jaybowl, then SUA would have to break contract with it or something. Because if they can do it there, but not let the KU Men's Hockey Club host a watch party to raise money at a bar; then something isn't right.
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