Drinking Liberally at the Annex

Students and community members gathered in the basement of The Annex restaurant last Thursday for the third meeting of Drinking Liberally, one the newest political associations for both students and community members. Beer, wine and soda sustained attendees as they discussed politics, organized a protest of Condoleezza Rice's visit to the University and chatted about personal experiences.

Drinking Liberally is a chapter of a national organization that brings liberal thinkers together in local bars and restaurants. It began in New York two years ago, and has now expanded to more than 100 chapters nationwide.

Princeton's chapter — started by Josh Weitz GS, College Democrats president Frances Schendle '06 and Juan Melli GS — was founded to follow up on the success of the Frist Filibuster last spring, which protested the "nuclear option" proposed to eliminate the Senate filibuster.

Drinking Liberally hopes to keep the filibuster participants organized and involved with the community, Weitz said.

"It is similar to the way the Right has been organizing around churches for years," Melli said. "Drinking Liberally was created to bring together the progressive community because there is a divide between the community and the University."

Schendle said Drinking Liberally — which is open to both Princeton students and community members — is a forum for liberals to be active in the political community and spur debate within the Democratic community.

The meetings, held Thursdays at 7 p.m., are generally informal. "We eat, we drink, to some extent we plan future actions — it's a fun place to talk politics," Weitz said.

Schendle described the meetings as a place to organize protests and events and to share political and personal experiences. "We discuss everything from our social and political views to our days or our families," she said.

Individuals under 21 are encouraged to attend, even though they can't drink alcohol.

Though Melli said that Drinking Liberally does not follow any particular agenda, it does serve as a forum for people to spread news about activities that their political groups are organizing. Lindsey Locks '07, a member of Drinking Liberally, described the meetings as "a place for people to get together and bring their ideas and plans to the community."

Though the organization is fairly new and has had only three meetings so far, nearly 100 people have signed up, organizers said. About 40 people attended the first meeting, including undergraduate students, graduate students and community members, but the number of people at each meeting has increased, said Laura Boyce '07, communications director for the College Democrats.

To expand the membership, Weitz said the group will begin putting up flyers, as well as becoming more active in publicizing weekly meetings and expanding their media coverage.

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The College Democrats, though not formally affiliated with Drinking Liberally, have also helped spread the word and increase membership. "We agreed to help Drinking Liberally advertise and help them reach their personal audience although we aren't actually involved," Boyce said.

Schendle said that though the College Democrats are not currently collaborating with Drinking Liberally on any projects, the two groups may join forces in the future because they have similar aims and an overlapping membership base.

Organizers of Drinking Liberally said that in the future they hope to sustain the group, become more connected with the community and attract more undergraduates as well as community members. "Hopefully Drinking Liberally will not just be a presence on campus but will ... ideally grow both on and off campus," Boyce said.