Although they have met resistance in recent years, bar nights in Evanston are holding their ground as student groups continue to mix fundraising and fun.
Groups have used local bars to raise money for years, as organizations like Mayfest, Dance Marathon and Senior Week frequently host fundraising events that generate large profits for their causes.
Bar nights took a hit in October 2005, when the Evanston City Council sought to impose stricter regulations on downtown bars.
That June, a 22-year-old Evanston man was shot outside The Keg of Evanston, 810 Grove St., by 20-year-old Antoine Hill, who later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
The council passed an ordinance that required people under 21 to leave five downtown bars – The Keg, Prairie Moon, Tommy Nevin’s Pub, Bill’s Blues Bar and the 1800 Club – by midnight.
Worried about the effect the ordinance would have on fundraising, members of Associated Student Government started lobbying the council for an amendment to the policy.
After several meetings, the City Council amended the ordinance in January 2006 with several conditions and renewed it last October. Now, students ages 18 to 20 can attend fundraisers as long as they carry proper identification and wear wristbands or handstamps.
Student groups also have to secure a contract, obtained through the Center for Student Involvement, and get city approval at least two weeks prior to the event. The council also restricted the number of bar nights per year to 40.
Bar nights have remained strong fundraisers for larger groups, said Helen Wood, the center’s director. For example, DM holds Trivia Nights every Tuesday night at the 1800 Club, 1800 Sherman Ave. Wood said smaller student groups have started to notice the potential for fundraising with bar nights. Even so, the center has given out fewer than 30 bar night contracts since the beginning of this academic year, she said.
“Where we’ve seen a difference is in the types of groups trying to hold these events,” said Wood. “Groups who don’t normally do this kind of thing have realized that they can make quite a bit of money.”
Last month, Relay for Life held a bar night at Tommy Nevin’s Pub, 1450-58 Sherman Ave., McCormick junior Allan Cheng, the group’s food chairman, said the event helped raise money and awareness about the group in a fun way.
“Our main goal is to raise money for our cause, but it’s also a great way for us to get our name out there and recruit more supporters,” Cheng said.
Cheng said bar nights also let group members spend time together outside of meetings.
“Usually we get a lot of people who don’t socialize with each other outside of the actual event,” he said. “This is a way for the kids to meet and get to know each other.”
Advertised through Facebook, the bar night had a $3 cover charge, but was limited to people 21-and-over. Cheng said the Wednesday night turnout wasn’t as big as expected, but the group still raised about $100.
At the 1800 Club, there is no charge for using the bar, and groups keep everything they earn through cover charges. Bar manager Eric Sheffler said the events are not about making money for the bar, but they are good for bringing in extra business.
“I think it’s really great, especially if it’s for charity,” Sheffler said. “I try to get as many bar nights here as possible.”
Similar to the 1800 Club, there is no upfront cost at Nevin’s, but there is a “guarantee system.” Nevin’s Manager Rohit Sahajpal said student groups must ensure the bar generates a certain amount of revenue in drinks and food, in exchange for using the room for free and keeping the revenue from cover charges.
“It’s our policy that 100 percent of the covers go to the group,” he said. “If they don’t meet the value we set for revenue, they have to make up the difference.”
Although the strict city ordinance creates a “headache” for the bars, Sahajpal said he thinks having a bar night is a positive thing for everyone involved.
“To be honest, I think these events are really cool,” he said. “It’s great to see college students trying to make a difference.”
