By Lindsay Haislip
News Editor
Washington College’s first official on-campus bar is scheduled to open soon in Hodson Student Center, giving students, faculty, and staff a fun and safe place on campus to socialize, eat, and drink. 
- Photo by Katie Manion
“We want to provide an atmosphere for students to be able to stay on campus and offer certain things that the town of Chestertown is offering, on campus,” said Director of Student Activities Emanuel Lalande.
The bar has always been a part of Hodson Hall, however it has never been used as an official bar and has always given students a maximum drink limit for events such as WAC Lounge that have been held in the space. This new bar will give students the opportunity to show that they are responsible and don’t need to have limits placed on the amount of alcohol they are permitted to consume.
“If it goes well with no limits and we see that students are being responsible, we will continue that trend leading up to Birthday Ball,” said Lalande.
While WC doesn’t want to encourage students to drink, the College recognizes the need to provide students with a fun and realistic place to gather during hours when they might be off campus at a local bar.
“We’re not promoting drinking or alcohol, but we understand that this is college. We want to help students be responsible and we have to be responsible as administrators and recognize the need for a possible bar,” said Lalande.
The bar itself would be a shared responsibility between the OSA and the SGA, with the possibility of having student workers as waiters and waitresses. Also in the possible plans could include a karaoke night, open mic night, and a regular DJ to entertain students throughout the night.
Those members of the community that are 21 years old will be given a wrist band to indicate to the bartenders that they are of age, allowing all members of the community to attend the bar and socialize, regardless of age.
As for the space itself, minor tweaks will be made to make the area more ‘bar-like’ and give it a more realistic atmosphere. A moveable wall to section the area off, a TV to show sports, and high tables are two examples of these tweaks that will make the space feel more like a bar. Students may even be able to use their WC ID cards to purchase items in the new bar as well, making it more convenient for students. The hours and days that the bar will be open have not yet been finalized, but will most likely conform to normal bar hours in town.
“I know students like the fact that they can go off campus and drink and not be confined to one area and under authority, but at the same time, all we’re trying to do is create a safe environment,” said Lalande.
Senior SGA President Andrew Antonio agrees with Lalande, and believes that a campus bar will not only give students a relaxed environment to unwind, but will also show students that they are viewed as responsible adults.
“We want to create a fun environment on-campus where students can kick back at the end of a long week and have a few drinks,” said Antonio. “A campus pub will be safe, convenient, and always close to home. In no way does the creation of a pub promote drinking; we’re promoting responsibility.”
Lalande also expressed his hope that students will show that they are responsible and can handle themselves without a drinking limit, as it’s important to the College to keep students safe and on campus. With winter fast approaching, a relaxed and fun environment to drink and be with friends on campus may look much more appealing than travelling into town.
“SGA supports this bar because they believe in the students to be responsible and not be restricted to a drinking limit, so I’m hoping when this bar opens that students will be responsible and understand that we want you to stay on campus,” Lalande said.