The holiday that college students across the country look forward to all year has finally come. St. Patrick’s Day has become a known partying holiday for colleges everywhere, and Fairfield is no exception. Typically celebrating with the annual “Sham Jam” darty, Fairfield students dress up in their festive green attire and head outside to party with their friends. Underclassmen usually flock to the townhouses for this celebration while upperclassmen participate in festivities down by the beach. Planned to occur on Mar. 22, the student body is getting excited to celebrate this iconic Irish holiday.
Taking advantage of one of Fairfield’s favorite traditions, the Seagrape Cafe announced its own Sham Jam event to be hosted for students over 21 years of age. Released on Mar. 5, the tickets are thirty-five dollars per person and include beer, cider, DJs, giveaways and “Irish vibes,” as the flyer states. Set to begin at 11 a.m. and “run for at least 4 hours and go until the fun dies down,” seniors now have a choice on how to spend their Sham Jam Saturday.
As a senior myself, this ticket release came as more of an annoyance to me rather than excitement. I go to the Seagrape almost every weekend with my friends, and this Sham Jam event seems more like a reach to capitalize on a student-initiated event. From a business standpoint, the Seagrape is definitely using Sham Jam to their advantage, and I can’t even blame them. I’m sure that plenty of eager seniors will buy their thirty-five dollar ticket and show up to down a couple of drinks…before inevitably leaving after an hour. I have heard a couple of people mention that they plan to use the Seagrape’s Sham Jam event as a pregame to other festivities, however, this is a pregame that I won’t find myself participating in.
Personally, I don’t feel the need to pay thirty-five dollars to drink Angry Orchards in the same bar that I attend every weekend for no cover fee. Especially since I am lucky enough to live on Lantern Point, I would much rather hang out at my house and host our friends over until any action starts at the beach. As someone who loves to go out to the Seagrape with my friends on a Friday night, I don’t feel the need to spend any more money on themed events there than I already have. After paying to attend Oktoberfest and New Year’s Eve this year, I am definitely looking to spend my Sham Jam in a different setting. While the ticket price is reasonable and far cheaper than previous events, I don’t feel like spending my thirty-five dollars at the Seagrape would be worth it. Especially considering that it covers “Irish vibes”… whatever that means. Personally, I am confident that I could create adequate Irish vibes for free at my own house.
In contrast to me, some seniors are eager and excited to attend their last Sham Jam at the Seagrape. Senior Heather Hodgkins shared that she plans to go with her friends, but wishes there was a cheaper option for seniors who don’t plan to drink. “I know it’s unlikely for a college student not to drink but personally it’s not my favorite, especially during the day. I still want to go and be around my friends, I just wish a cheaper option was available without drinks included because I am paying for drinks I’m not going to have.”
While some Stags want to make the most out of the “lasts” of their senior year, others share my same mentality: That not every event has to be commercialized.
Senior Jenna LaRochelle states, “I think it’s nice that the Grape wants to put on an event, but I personally would rather just spend time with my friends at home or on the beach. It’s a lot of money for the bar that we can go to any day of the week.”
Senior Andrew Caslin echoes similar thoughts, sharing, “I think the Grape is capitalizing off an event that’s been going on for years. I don’t know how exactly it will affect the number of people attending any festivities at the beach, but I imagine it won’t be much considering that it’s a set amount of tickets, offered only to the senior class.”
While the Seagrape is using this fan-favorite college event to their advantage—as any smart business would—I will be content hanging out with my friends on the beach, and keeping that thirty-five dollars in my pocket.