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Soiree will celebrate new building, raise money for students
By Emily Wescott
Whalesong Conttibutor
The UAS Winter
Scholarship Soiree on Friday, Jan. 11, will celebrate the opening
of the new Egan Library classroom addition and help raise money
for student scholarships. Similar to the Tuxedo Junction event of
years past, the fundraiser will highlight three bands and include
dancing, comedy and Monte Carlo-style gaming.
“This is a great opportunity for people in the
community to see the new building and have an enjoyable, entertaining
evening,” said UAS Chancellor John Pugh. “Guests will
have the chance to give to the students of the university through
a scholarship fund and enjoy themselves.”
The Scholarship Soiree has now replaced Tuxedo Junction,
and because Tuxedo Junction was held elsewhere in past years, the
2002 Soiree marks the first time since 1987 that alcohol will be
served on the UAS campus.
Tish Griffin Satre, UAS director of activities and housing,
was first involved with the yearly Tuxedo Junction scholarship fund-raising
event as bathroom security.
“I thought, what am I looking for?” Griffin
Satre said. Tuxedo Junction “was not an event that ever caused
concern. Even though alcohol is available, we rarely see (guests)
overindulge. People are making a conscious choice to drink responsibly.”
When Marshall Lind became chancellor of UAS in 1987,
he banned alcohol at university events held on the campus. According
to Griffin Satre, alcohol was allowed on campus before then, when
the average age of the student was about 35.
“It’s different on campus now, but this is
not a student event,” Griffin Satre said. “We’re
planning an all-age event at the Student Activities Center that
night.”
UAS is taking every precaution to make the Soiree as
safe as possible for all involved. Only beer and wine will be served,
there will be non-alcoholic drinks available and the espresso bar
will be open. Cab companies have been alerted of the event, and
there will be security at every door.
“The focus of the event is not alcohol,” Griffin
Satre said. “Guests will be there to support a cause, dance
and enjoy music. Alcohol is secondary; we will contract with a local
vendor and they take the liability of alcohol sales on campus that
evening.”
Griffin Satre referred to a lawsuit that was settled
out of court several weeks ago in which an estate sued the bar and
liquor store that allegedly sold alcohol to Michael Glaser on April
19, 2000. According to the Juneau Empire article of Nov. 15, 2002,
“Macaulay estate gets settlement,” Glaser drove drunk
and struck a vehicle, killing two men and seriously injuring another.
The settlement “sends a loud message to whomever
is serving,” Griffin Satre said. “People are highly conscious
of potential legal and social ramifications. We want people to make
responsible choices about their alcohol use, and we’ll do everything
we can to help them make good choices that evening.
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