MCAB renews raffles at pub night

The Middlebury College Activities Board (MCAB) has reinstated raffles for students over the age of 21 during Pub Night this semester, a decision praised by many seniors who remember longing to participate as underclassmen.

The move came after MCAB received comments from various upperclassmen, nostalgic for the days when Pub Night sent home some of its older attendees with more than catchy melodies to hum while waiting for the weekend.

Alex Revelas ’10, one of the MCAB members responsible for reviving the raffles, could not recall exactly when the drawings had been suspended, but remembers them accompanying Pub Night’s signature live music and pizza sticks when she was a first-year. “This is a step back to the Pub Nights that I knew and loved as an underclassman,” she wrote in an e-mail.

MCAB believes that the raffles will attract more attention to Pub Night, but hopes that students will come to take advantage of the other amenities offered at the weekly event as well. According to Revelas, student bands as well as “quality acts from the New England area” will be featured throughout the semester, and inviting drink specials are sure to continue to bolster of-age attendance. “In essence,” she says, “the raffles are a bonus.”

Because the prizes are promotional items sent to MCAB from different breweries free of charge, reinstating the raffles at Pub Night comes at effectively zero cost. At the last Pub Night event, held on Thursday, Feb. 18, attendees had the chance to win items from Otter Creek Brewery, including T-shirts, blankets and pint glasses. The local brewing company also provided the raffle with one-day ski passes to the Snow Bowl.

This does not mean that MCAB is unwilling to put up the money to increase student enjoyment at the event, however. Along with the senior raffle revival, MCAB is presently considering opening the raffle to students of all ages — a product, perhaps, of current seniors’ memories of feeling left out of the event when they were younger. To accomplish this, MCAB would need to purchase items for younger students that do not promote alcoholic products. Examples of potential items, say board members, include movie and restaurant gift certificates.

A more inclusive raffle at Pub Night would have its pros and cons, says Peter DiPrinzio ’13. “I would love to win something, but I’m not sure it’s worth the money to include everybody.”

“It’s something to look forward to when I’m a senior,” he added.

Regardless of this decision, however, Revelas says that MCAB’s goal is to make Pub Night fun for everyone, even for those who don’t win the raffle. “We do not want you coming just for the raffle. Come in for the fantastic music, good company and plentiful food and drink!”

Pub Night is held Thursday nights from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Grille. The next event will be held on March 4, and will feature student band Hey Mama.