Messiah CollegeNightlife Summary

Written by Ashley Offenback

Ashley Offenback

Hometown

Yardley, Pa.

Major

Journalism

View all previous student authors

“Messiah nightlife” is almost an oxymoron. Typical late-night hotspots include 24-hour Wal-Marts and Sheetz. The party scene on campus is very limited because drinking alcohol is prohibited by the Community Covenant for all students. On-campus house parties are nonexistent, and off-campus house parties have been known to take place but are few and far between. Luckily, most students are able to find other stuff to do on the weekends, such as go to the movies, attend concerts, explore the campus, or play games in the dorms. Anyone underage who really wants to drink must do it quietly and behind closed doors. Students who are 21 and over sometimes visit the bars on 2nd Street in Harrisburg, but they risk being caught by tattletales and facing the consequences. The majority of students, however, either hold personal convictions against alcohol or are content refraining from drinking while at Messiah.

The occasional dances thrown by the Student Activities Board are insanely popular with students. Sporadic spur-of-the-moment dance parties are also put together throughout the year in dorm lounges and are always well-attended. Over-21 and under-21 clubs do exist in Harrisburg but are not well-frequented by students. Hookah bars are an up-and-coming trend that seem to become more wildly popular and attended by the minute. Even students who refuse to drink often will devote the night to a hookah bar with friends.