Logistics for the senior boat party are still in the works, but organizers have announced updates, including the retraction of the open bar that was previously promised.
The “Annual Senior Party” Facebook page stated April 7 that the 600 tickets for the Monday, May 27 event are quickly disappearing, but legal issues prevented organizers from keeping their promise of an open bar at The Pourhouse following the ride.
Senior Andrew Coleman is one of the students arranging the event and said there were liability issues with open bar.
“After talking to our lawyers and The Pourhouse lawyers, we couldn’t come to an understanding,” Coleman said. “The Pourhouse’s liability only goes so far, so we would be liable for everyone’s actions even after they left The Pourhouse. We just weren’t comfortable with that.”
Instead, The Pourhouse will offer each student of legal drinking age five free drinks tickets. If students use all of their tickets, organizers have negotiated $2 mixed drinks and $3 beers for the remainder of the evening.
Senior Charlie Luckie said he already bought his $67.27 ticket expecting the open bar. Luckie said the organizers should consider refunding students who might change their minds after the adjustment.
“It probably is a good idea to not have an open bar, especially for our class,” Luckie said. “But now that they have changed it, I believe they should refund the people who have purchased tickets already and lower prices for those who have not bought a ticket or find some way to compensate for no open bar.”
Senior Sarah Covington does not plan on attending the event, but she said she supports the decision to nix the open bar.
“It really doesn’t surprise me that they weren’t able to get an open bar,” Covington said. “I think it’s a lot of work for whoever decided to take it on … to be able to put on a party like that on a boat really is a lot of liability.”
Still, some students said they are content with five free drinks. Senior Tyler Nelson said he thought the price would be more of a deterrent than a limited number of drinks.
“I would be fine with it. I’m not the biggest drinker, so I guess my discretion in going or not would be based on the overall price more than how many drinks are included,” Nelson said.
Undergraduate Student Government in previous years hosted the riverboat party, but USG decided to drop funding for the event as a school function last year.
Despite the open-bar setback, Coleman said there are still plans in the works for the event.
“We’ll be able to release more information in about two weeks about things like the DJ at the Pourhouse,” Coleman said. “We’re working it out right now.”
Anastasia Straley can be reached at stra0669@stthomas.edu.
Honestly, its still a good deal at this price point… even without the open bar. The cost of renting out the boat, plus DJ on the boat, plus transportation to Pour House, plus all the Pour House fees, plus a DJ at the Pour House is quite expensive. You don’t just need alcohol to have fun, kids. There’s other drugs for that!