“˜GradBar’ to help graduate students mingle

By Todd Belie
Daily Bruin Contributor

With majors ranging from engineering to classics, most of the
8,000 graduate students on campus do not interact with others
outside their fields on a regular basis.

To promote greater interaction, the Graduate Student Association
is sponsoring a social event known as GradBar, which will meet for
the first time today at 5:30 p.m. in Kerckhoff Hall’s Charles
E. Young Grand Salon.

“We hope to attract graduate students from across the
spectrum,” said Martin Griffin, president of GSA.

Open to all graduate students with a valid ID and Bruin Card,
the meeting will offer a convenient place for students to
congregate. Free food and wine, beer and cocktails will be served
for under $5.

Within the next few years, the demographics of the campus might
change drastically with the creation of an on-campus housing
complex for graduate students, according to Griffin. With the
expected increase in the graduate student population, a place on
campus to meet others, socialize and drink alcohol might become
more desirable. According to Griffin, the fact that the event was
organized by students from different departments, including
English, applied linguistics and chemistry, demonstrates the desire
for such a mixer.

GSA members are hoping for a few hundred people to attend
today.

“We hope we won’t be staring at a pile of uneaten
appetizers,” Griffin said.

Regardless of how the first event turns out, GSA is planning
similar functions once a month until June.

But some graduate students are less enthusiastic about the
event.

“I don’t think it will promote getting to know each
other, other than as drunks,” said MacLane Key, a computer
science graduate student and research scientist at Coudert Brothers
law firm.

“I don’t think it will encourage people to come to
campus and meet people,” he continued. “If they are
already there they might stop by but will probably stay in small
groups.”

Griffin is not worried about the outcome of the event.

“If people don’t mix then that’s fine, we
won’t force it,” Griffin said.

Key also said having alcohol present may not be a big draw for
many graduate students.

“It’s not quite as big for people who have been
drinking for years,” he said. “It might have more of an
impact for undergraduates, however.”

Funding for the event will come directly out of GSA’s
account and is expected to cost a few hundred dollars, according to
Griffin.

“GSA has a small budget for things like publications and
the Melnitz movies. And like the movies, this event will fit into
the social and cultural life of graduate students,” Griffin
said.

There will be several ID checks to discourage non-graduate
students and those under 21 from attending the GradBar.

According to Jerry Mann, director of student union and student
support services, UCLA is not a dry campus. Although no alcohol is
sold on campus, forums at the Faculty Center and several groups,
including the Anderson Student Association, have events where
alcohol is served.

Mann said groups wishing to serve alcohol must first get written
permission and abide by the UCLA Student Alcohol Policy and state
law. The policy limits when and where the alcohol can be consumed,
and says that only someone licensed in California to sell alcohol
may distribute the liquor.