Lawson and Cornwall are executive members of UCLA’s
Brewin’ Club.
By Daniel Lawson and Scott Cornwall
A bar on campus? A bar that serves cold, bubbly goodness
comprised of wheat, barley and hops in a pint glass? Is it
possible, could it be true? There is a revival brewing on campus
among those who feel that a pub is the solution to bringing
together the ever-growing community of Bruins who search for the
center of campus daily.
As a new club on campus, the Brewin’ Club has certainly
been trying to find it’s niche. We represent the overwhelming
voice of the student population that would like to see the
university open it’s eyes to the fact that students do drink
socially and most of us are not raging, thoughtless alcoholics. We
simply want to exercise our right to consume the products we know
and love. To believe that access to condoms increases
students’ propensity to engage in sex is the same logic that
dictates that the mere presence of alcohol on campus will make us
all turn to alcoholism. The reality is that students do drink and
most do it with an air of responsibility.
There are those who would have you believe that a pub on campus
would encourage students to ditch class or show up drunk with their
underwear outside their pants, wearing a lampshade on their head
acting very much like Homer Simpson. The fact is that students will
do these things with or without a pub on campus.
Our campus deserves the right to have the same atmosphere as
other campuses in the state and around the nation ““ an
atmosphere that promotes a comfortable meeting place on campus that
could well become another needed centerpiece for UCLA campus
society.
Having been to other college campuses within California, such as
UCI, San Jose State, Sonoma State and San Diego State, we have seen
the light cast off a freshly poured pint sitting on a bar
countertop ““ and we like it. These bars provide a social
place for students who want to unwind after a long day of lectures
or midterms, or for those who simply sleep through class and now
need to meet with someone to get their lecture notes. We have seen
how other bars on campus can contribute positively to the
atmosphere already under way on college campuses.
If ASUCLA is concerned with securing profitable establishments
on campus, a bar or restaurant that serves alcohol would be a
gainful move that would certainly endure in the long run.
Initially, the appearance of a bar on campus will have every of-age
student moving like they were in the House of Pain video for
“Jump Around,” but it will be more than just a
phenomenon. A pub will endure, because wouldn’t it be nice to
have a pint or two and unwind after taking two finals in the same
day?
Perhaps you can’t find tickets to the big game but still
want to watch it with other Bruins? Wouldn’t you like to go
to a place where everybody knows your name? Why not stop off at the
Bruin Brewery, see some friends, have some suds and catch your
favorite Bruins on TV?
The bottom line remains that there is a desire, need and
availability for an establishment on campus which serves alcoholic
beverages and the Brewin’ Club supports the move.