With the closing of so many local Fairfield bars, students are venturing further into Connecticut. Underclassmen, in particular, have started renting buses to transport them to and from R Bar in New Haven.
An incident during the week of Feb. 1, however, may have put a kink in underclassmen’s ability to get into this “18 to party, 21 to drink” bar.
Fairfield Police were the first authorities to take action against the transportation system when an officer noticed a large group of students gathered on Barlow Road outside of Fairfield’s entrance gate, according to Fairfield Chief of Police David Peck.
“There were two full bus loads of students who were blocking traffic, most of which were underage,” Peck said.
The officer on the scene called in the incident to the University’s Department of Public Safety.
“Our department is very aware of the under-age drinking that takes place at the R Bar,” said Todd Pelazza, director of Public Safety. “We are concerned not only with the risk these students pose by standing in the street but [also with] the idea of highly intoxicated underage students being dropped off outside the campus.”
This method of transportation for students to and from R bar and has been a constant on Thursdays from the beginning of spring semester.
“The cops came and took everyone’s name and ID number but added that [we] wouldn’t get in trouble. They also told the bus to leave, but it eventually came back and brought everybody to the bar,” said a freshman who was on the bus that Thursday night.
The student wished to remain anonymous for fear of being punished by the University.
Similar programs have been coordinated at other universities, including Sacred Heart.
Peck said he does not agree with the “drunk bus” concept.
“While there have been no ramifications for any parties involved yet, we are working with liquor control as well as looking into the Chippy-O bus company, which provides the buses for the trip,” he said.
Students, including Jennifer Smith ’09, are angered by University and local officials’s goal to eliminate mass transportation to and from bars.
“Students are going to drink no matter what, but as long as they’re not driving then its OK,” Smith said.
Whitney Anderson ’09 recalled times where she and her friends piled eight people into a four-person car.
“The bus is definitely safer,” she said.
“[The bus] eliminates the possibility of kids driving drunk and provides a safe ride for kids who want to go off campus,” said Jen Golia ’10.
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