Last-minute libation limits

By Editorial

This past weekend, the senior class and their parents dined and danced the night away in the Malley Fitness Center without the open bar that has been a tradition of years past.

In place of the open bar, a two-ticket (free drink) limit was imposed for each attendee, in addition to wine on the dinner table.

Tickets to the dinner and dance event were $50 each. For a senior and his or her two parents, that becomes a costly $150 evening. Forcing the attendees to pay for the third drink is a classless move on the part of the organizers. Who wants to worry about tickets when all seniors want to do is have a good time with their parents one evening?

Invitations to the soiree were sent under the pretence of the provision of unlimited drinks; all previous events have been so. And truth be told, one of the biggest draws to the night is the opportunity to out-drink your dad.

Senior class president Michael Olcese said that he was misled by the organizers. He sent out an e-mail to the senior class advertising the open bar because he had not received any contradictory information until just a few days before the event.

Jim Purcell, Vice President of University Relations, in an e-mail to the senior class, said the change away from previous events was done for legitimate reasons.

"The university is very concerned about creating the safest environment possible for our students and also remaining within our budget for the senior dinner dance," Purcell said.

Despite the change, many seniors still said they had a good time. What we don't appreciate is the last minute manner in which it was done.