Photo via St. Lawrence University

As I am sure many of you have read, an article of mine was published in The Hill News last week regarding the popularity of Pub 56. First, I would like to respond by making it clear that I am not even a member of The Hill News.

I had written the article for a journalism class that I am taking this semester with Juraj Kittler. He had suggested that I focus on the problems of Pub 56 because that is what he believed was newsworthy. At the beginning of the semester, he had told us that there was a chance that our articles would be published; however, I was unaware that this one was being seriously considered.

Obviously if I had been asked, I would have declined for my article to be put in The Hill News, as I do not even agree with the idea of Pub 56 being “a lost cause.” I was trying to dramatize the problems of Pub 56 this year in hopes of making my story seem newsworthy enough for my professor. After all, he is giving me the grade is he not? I had never thought that the entire school would have access to the story that I felt bad about even writing.

I myself am a frequent customer to Pub 56, as I live in the suites and have a suitemate who works there. Do I agree with the idea that dollar beers should be on Monday instead of Wednesday? Absolutely. Have we had to discuss Pub 56 on more than one occasion in Thelmo? Yes. However, I still enjoy going there and I think it is a very special place on campus.

There are several events taking place at Pub 56 for the rest of the semester and it is booked for the rest of the year. They have had great events in the past, which I can say firsthand were fun, like karaoke, Laurentian Trivia, live bands and more. Not only can you buy good easy food – like pizza and mac-and-cheese bites while you are there, but you can also buy beer (if you are 21, obviously) on your meal plan with the purchase of a pub mug. Even if you do not want beer, they have other great options as well, including Not Your Father’s Rootbeer, Spiked Seltzers, and even sake.

I would like to apologize to the employees of Pub 56 and everyone who is involved with the events that go on there. I know that all of you work very hard to make it a popular and successful place on campus. It is without a doubt that my suite and I like going there, and it shows with the ten pub mugs we currently have sitting on our windowsill!

Note from the editor: On page 9 of the April 8 edition of The Hill News, a faculty source submitted Carlton’s “Pub 56: Hot Commodity or Lost Cause ?” which outlined the limitations of campus bar Pub 56. Following the article’s publication, Carlton submitted a follow-up retraction to the material. Thus, although the following selection falls within a Letter to the Editor context, it is run below in the A/E section, within which the original article was published.