*Due to sensitive topics of underage drinking, all students quoted have requested to stay anonymous.
“Villa-no-fun” is a connotation that has been associated with Villanova University’s nightlife and social scene for decades. With the lack of Greek life housing and the accessibility to parties hosted by students, it is without a surprise that students would turn to College Hall for parties, referred more commonly to as “Courts.”
However, with the nearby bars being strictly for students over 21 and Courts parties continuously being shut down early due to noise complaints, underage consumption and high tensions between students and the owners and landlords of College Hall, students are being displaced at a large rate when looking for a place to spend their Friday and Saturday nights.
“A lot of us feel like we need to go into Philly on the weekends in order for there to be something to do,” a junior male student said. “As an underage guy not in a fraternity, my options are really limited on what I can do on and near campus.”
Within recent months, an increased number of Villanova students has been trekking to Philadelphia to spend nights out. Whether it is students going to fraternity parties at other local universities such as Haverford or the University of Pennsylvania, or going to bars with more lenient acceptance tendencies, it raises the question: is this the best and most effective way for Villanova students to be able to spend their free time? And what concerns are brought upon those making this trip into the city?
Within the recent months, the concerns of safety, cost and underage consumption has been at an all time high, both in Philly and here on Villanova’s campus. Earlier this month, there was an instance of gun violence near a highly populated bar: JJ’s Bootleggers, a frequented location by many Villanovans.
“My friends and I went to JJs [the night of the shooting],” a sophomore female student said. “We were not there for that long and did not fully understand what had happened until we got home, which I am grateful for. I do not really feel safe. Especially at night, Philly can be scary and unpredictable. I also do not like the fact that I need to use a fake [ID], since it is not always a guarantee that everyone in our group will get in. If that happens, the whole group leaves. Which is good because the whole group sticks together, but it also causes the night to end shorter than anticipated.”
After multiple attempts to contact JJ Bootleggers, they have declined to comment.
While safety is one of the highest concerns from those who travel into the city on the weekends, they also recognize that it is not the most economical decision as well.
“One of my least favorite parts about going into Philly on the weekends is the cost,” the junior male said. “The Ubers, the drinks, the cost of a fake ID itself, it adds up. As a college student, I want to be able to have fun, but then I end up spending anywhere between $50 to $100 every time we go.”
The costs associated with going out tends to sway people away from going. On one hand, this prevents safety issues regarding Villanova students who may be going out, when they then decide to stay in. However, this also can cause more students to drink on campus or attempt to go out closer to campus. By deciding to turn to on-campus activities, they risk the chance of being confronted by an RA or Public Safety, and by attempting to get into a bar such as Kelly’s, they risk the police being called on them, and the chance of being permanently banned from the bar.
“I wish Villanova had better going out options,” the sophomore female said. “I think Courts was a perfect medium because it was a short drive, but still far enough away to be a little removed from campus. I also liked that I was surrounded only by Villanova students.”
“I like to go to parties at other local universities,” a male sophomore student said. “Going to schools such as Haverford or UPenn, where the administration understands that college students want to be able to have a good time, makes me feel more safe than drinking on Villanova’s campus. It is truly remarkable how different a school five minutes down the road’s culture regarding drinking can be.”
As Villanova students call for a change in the going out culture around campus, more and more students will continue to go into the city. The concerns of cost and safety will continue to be in the minds of Villanova students who try to decide if going out is truly worth the risks that come along with a night out in Philly.
