Raising the Bar: Juniors Give Seniors Competition

For some fun-seeking juniors, senior year just won’t come soon enough.

All year, seniors have been socializing with their classmates at Senior Bar, a suggested itinerary of certain bars to go on any given night. Emulating their elders, juniors have now established their own Junior Bar.

“My friends and I started it up on a whim,” said Jade M. Reichling ’09, one of Junior Bar’s founders. “Senior Bar is to reconnect with all the seniors. Why wait until senior year when we can do more reconnecting and bonding starting junior year?“

Largely organized by Facebook, Junior Bar encourages juniors—although students not in the Class of 2009 are also welcome—to go to bars for a bit of revelry on particular nights. “We’re trying to standardize it so people know where to go and find people. Every Tuesday, Junior Bar is at The Kong, every Wednesday, it’s at The Kells, and on Thursdays we are going to try to mix in different bars in the Square,” Reichling said.

Junior Bar has occurred only three times since its conception, but it is already gathering a following.

Daniel A. F. Demetri ’09 had his first legal drink at Junior Bar last week.

“Junior Bar is a great idea because you tend to know a lot more people in your class than you know in other classes,” Demetri said. “I heard from my blockmates about it, and now I’m participating in spreading the word. It’s been pretty small but hopefully it’ll pick up and more people will start coming.”

Some students—particularly seniors—were surprised to hear that the juniors had established their own bar schedule.

Firth M. McEachern ’08, an active Senior Bar attendant, was caught off-guard by the genesis of Junior Bar, but said he was not upset by it. “Quite a few juniors go to Senior Bar,” he said. “There was definitely a demand for a Junior Bar.”

Junior and Senior Bars benefit not only the students, but also local bars. Grafton Street, located at the corner of Mass Ave and Bow Street, has frequently appeared on the Senior Bar circuit and will likely find itself a location for Junior Bar at some point.

“It’s been a pleasure doing business with Senior Bar,” said David Flanagan, the general manager of Grafton Street. “It seems to be very conducive to both parties.”

Students echoed Flanagan’s enthusiasm.

“Our goal for the rest of the semester is just to keep people coming out and spread the word more,” Reichling said. “People are ready to go out and meet people and have fun. They just need some direction and organization.”

Junior and Senior Bars benefit not only the students, but also local bars. Grafton Street, located at the corner of Mass Ave and Bow Street, has frequently appeared on the Senior Bar circuit and will likely find itself a location for Junior Bar at some point.

“It’s been a pleasure doing business with Senior Bar,” said David Flanagan, the general manager of Grafton Street. “It seems to be very conducive to both parties.”

Students echoed Flanagan’s enthusiasm.

“Our goal for the rest of the semester is just to keep people coming out and spread the word more,” Reichling said. “People are ready to go out and meet people and have fun. They just need some direction and organization.”