Staff Editorial: Keep alcohol on points

Citing problems with student behavior, The Bull Durham Bar at the Washington Duke Inn is considering terminating its alcohol on points services. The management, which serves a diverse and upscale clientele, has hinted that the venue is becoming too much of a typical college hangout, and is thus losing appeal for non-Duke customers.

This situation leads to two conclusions. First, the termination of the alcohol on points program is an overreaction on the part of the bar's managers, and will negatively impact both the bar itself and the students.

The program brings tons of revenue to the establishment, and halting that source of income makes little sense from their perspective, especially when other avenues for solving the problem are available. The management has made a smart first move in alerting students of the fact that a problem exists, and that behavior must be toned down. It is to be expected that in a bar atmosphere, college students will become more boisterous as the night goes on. However, the bar could start to enforce a behavior policy, asking inebrieated to leave if they get to noisy. By creating such a standard, behavioral norms would develop within a few weeks. Give the students a chance to correct their behavior, and give them enough credit to think that they are capable of reigning in their actions. Further, stepping up carding efforts and setting drink limits would go a long way towards keeping the atmosphere at a respectable level.

The second point to be taken from this scenario is the necessity to reiterate the need for an on-campus bar similar to the Hideaway.

Students flock to The Bull Durham Bar because it is reasonably close, upscale and in a safe environment. Individuals do not need to worry about drinking and driving or calling cabs--concerns that the University has cited in cracking down on off-campus parties. With the relative decline of on-campus section parties and the sparse smattering of University-sponsored alcoholic events, the walls are beginning to close in on students' social lives. The bar at the Armadillo Grill is a welcome addition, but it is not large enough to accommodate a significant number of students.

As officials plan for the additions to campus in the form of the new West Campus Student Center and Central Campus University Village, space should be set aside for a bar. The demand certainly exists, and to be frank, students may not be left with many other options in the near future.