The phrase "student life" means a handful of things to a lot of different groups at ASU. To some, student life is the touchy-feely idea perpetuated by Residential Life that we should all be a holistic community of well-behaved children who do everything together.
I agree, assuming that "well-behaved" means drunk and "doing everything" means general debauchery. With that in mind, I'll be bringing you columns every other week that tackle the important issues that deeply affect the University's "student life."
ASU students have a long and proud tradition of late night partying on the weekends. But weekends alone are not enough to sustain the party drive of the average Sun Devil. That's why we have day-drinking.
It makes perfect sense. Arizona has beautiful weather 8.56 months out of the year, and the best way to appreciate that weather is by sitting on a patio sipping a cold longneck with a slice of lime.
Unfortunately, college students have to face the unsettling fact that they must leave their own patios and go to class. As Ferris Bueller taught us, it's a crime to spend a beautiful day in class.
But we're not rebellious high school students like Ferris. Instead, ASU students are driven and motivated to attend class and feed that hunger for knowledge. We also know that ditching class forfeits the opportunity to check out hundreds of hot girls. Or guys. Or both.
The obvious solution is to combine class with drinking Coronas in the sun. That's impossible, but one local bar has done the next best thing.
For years, Dos Gringos Trailer Park on University Drive has provided students with a venue for day- drinking, serving cold beer at good prices in a spot that's closer to class than most parking spaces. They even step it up by throwing some solid Mexican food into the mix.
Dos Gringos has become an institution at ASU. Having sold nearly 2 million Coronas, its popularity dwarfs that of football games, road trips to San Diego and sex. Realizing this, Dos Gringos has made its slogan, "A great place to day-drink."
Nobody who has ever sat under an umbrella, relaxing in the misters with an ice-cold Corona and an order of nachos before a 1:40 class could argue with that. Heck, without that midday 3-beer buzz, I never could have passed Spanish 202. But I did, and now I speak muy bueno Espagnol.
Sadly, Spanish 202 is about to get a whole lot harder.
The owners of Dos Gringos have decided they need more space than their University Drive location can provide. They want more tables so more people can spend more money on more Coronas. As a result, they are looking into moving the Trailer Park to the location of the old Thirsty Beaver on Eighth Street.
In considering this move, Dos is forgetting three fundamental principles of being a kickass college bar: location, location, and being really friggin' conveniently close to campus.
Location is a big part of the reason Dos Gringos has sold 2 million Coronas, while watering holes like the Thirsty Beaver tanked. Location is the sole reason Dos has done so well.
Moving Dos to Eighth Street eliminates day-drinking. Students will be forced to buy their midday booze at Kinder or the Chuck Box or some other near-campus location that lacks the chill atmosphere Dos provided. Most day-drinkers will probably drop their cash at whatever bar is smart enough to take Dos Gringos' place on University. In addition, Dos will forfeit whole seasons of pre and post-football game partying. Hey, the "trailer park" ambiance was almost as good as real tailgate.
By losing that much business, it will be tough for Dos to fill those extra tables. It will be equally tough for students to fill the spot Dos once occupied in our hearts and livers.
On behalf of day-drinkers everywhere, "Say it ain't so, Dos!"
Tim Agne is a journalism senior. Reach him at tim.agne@asu.edu or at Dos Gringos.
