While many students enjoy spending time in the Pub, a lack of weekday gathering has contributed to reduced hours of operation. This semester, the Pub is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, in addition to the normal closures on Sunday and Monday. According to Esther Reed, Resident Director of AVI Foodsystems, the reason for the additional closure days is lack of weekday attendance. Dining Services determined that there was no need to remain open these days with the low attendance numbers.
Reed deemed that to be the only cause of closure for those days. “The cost of opening is not the issue, it is that we are not getting any guests to come to the Pub,” she explained.
Not only is cost not an issue for opening, but staffing provides no issues to the matter either. “Staffing for the pub has been great this year, we have a great team and no shortages,” said Reed. To remain open on those days with visitation being low, it would actually be more costly given the positions that would have to be filled by staff.
The Pub hosts specialty events from time to time, such as student performances and the recent Beer and Pretzel Night. Though these events might provide an incentive for guests to visit on certain days, it does not contribute to drawing an everyday crowd.“I feel like outside of a few events that we’ve had so far, there’s not much to do [at the Pub],” said Mike Kitterick ’24.
As a college that is a wet campus for students 21+, alcohol consumption is not something that is avoided, and the closure of the Pub on Tuesdays and Wednesdays is potentially beneficial to the drinking habits of students who can legally drink. “On a campus where drinking is already glorified, having the Pub open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays might be making that problem worse,” said Kitterick.
“As someone who is a senior at St. A’s I believe that the Pub should be open on weekdays,” said Kevin McCarthy ’24. The shift in operating hours appears to be more of a concern to McCarthy who said, “the Pub is a great place to hangout with friends and relax after a long day of classes and studying,” and having the Pub as an option on campus “is important for socializing.”
“The environment at the Pub is something unmatched anywhere else on campus, and something we should take pride in as a school,” McCarthy said. Anselmian pride is something that most students can collectively agree on at Saint Anselm, and “only being able to go there three times a week is sad,” he continued.
“I have recently had a discussion with a student who brought some great suggestions to us regarding the Pub, which we are currently working on implementing,” said Reed. If students, faculty, or staff feel that the Pub being closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays hinders their Anselmian experience, voicing those concerns to Dining Services could be in the best interest of those actually with concerns. More visitation could help bring back those hours, so speaking up could help keep this Saint Anselm tradition alive.