Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Dis-O Hits Under-21 Snag

MICHELLE XU/THE HOYA Bouncers did not allow underage seniors to enter the Mason Inn during much of a Dis-O event on Saturday night, although the bar’s management agreed that it could be an 18-and-up event.
MICHELLE XU/THE HOYA
Bouncers did not allow underage seniors to enter the Mason Inn during much of a Dis-O event on Saturday night, although the bar’s management agreed that it could be an 18-and-up event.

Although Saturday night’s Senior Dis-Orientation event at the Mason Inn was advertised as an 18 and up event, a communication error prevented the entry of under-21 members of the Class of 2015 for much of the event.

According to Senior Class Committee Events Chair Helen Li (MSB ’15), the SCC coordinated the event with the Mason Inn’s management, who agreed that underage students could attend the event as long as they wore wristbands indicating that they were not able to drink.

“I think [Mason Inn’s] main concern was that they would have to make sure that under-21 kids don’t get drinks from other students, which we completely understood. There’s a huge liability issue with that. But at the same time, they agreed and they ultimately fulfilled their promise. It was just frustrating,” Li said.

Li said that on Saturday night, it did not seem that the management had informed bouncers of this agreement.

“The most frustrating part for us as a board is that it seems like we didn’t adequately communicate with management, which is not true. There was just a lack of communication between management and the bouncers,” Li said.

After the bouncers refused entrance to underage students, Li called the Mason Inn’s owner, Fritz Brogan (COL ’07, LAW ’10), who came to the bar and made sure that the remaining 25 to 30 underage students associated with the Dis-Orientation event were allowed to enter. The underage students got into the bar between 11:30 p.m. and midnight, according to Li.

Brogan, however, said there was not a problem for underage students on Saturday night.

“There was a line to get in because a lot of people were there. Saturday is a busy night and we had a lot of people coming for the Georgetown party, so I think that people had to wait in line for five to 10 minutes, but there was no problem with people getting in that I know of,” Brogan said.

This is the first year that underage students have been invited to attend Dis-Orientation events at bars.

“In the past, there have been tons of bar events and the under-21 students have not been included. We thought that was unfair,” Li said. “A lot of students just want to go to bars to be with their friends, not necessarily to get a drink at the bar.”

Events at Bandelero and Rí Rá this week will also be open to students under the age of 21, but Li said that the SCC will take measures to ensure that the students are permitted to enter the bars.

“We’ve learned a lot, so we are making sure that the owners give us in writing exactly what their plan is and that they will let under-21 students in and that there will be no problems,” Li said. “They might have to stay in a certain area away from the bar … but they will be let in and they’ll be able to be with their friends at the event.”

Approximately 20 percent of the students who are registered for Dis-Orientation are under the age of 21.

Victoria Moroney (SFS ’15), 20, arrived at Mason Inn around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday evening, and was told by bouncers that they were only allowing three people under the age of 21 in the bar at a time.

“It was made pretty clear by one of the managers who came to speak with us that it was too much of a liability for them to accept anyone else even though they had agreed prior to this to let people under 21 in,” Moroney said.

Moroney said that she was disappointed that she was not able to participate in this event, which was widely advertised as accessible to underage students.

“There were a lot of people who had very clear expectations for what the event was … and that everyone would be able to participate at a really cool thing for people who are still under 21,” Moroney said. “I think it was a huge disappointment for all of us and I think we really felt like it was incredibly unfair and very manipulative of the Mason Inn to portray it as an event that was 18 and up when that clearly was not the case.”

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