Law classes began Aug. 14, and with it came the pressure of the curriculum and the incessant bore of endless pages of text to pore and ponder.
The Student Bar Asssociation of the Paul M. Hebert Law School is coordinating a program to help students unwind-free beer at Fred's Bar. The free beverages are part of the TGIF program designed to help students relieve stress.
Fred's owner Mark Fraioli said the beer for the TGIF event is provided by the bar.
"I buy three kegs. They drink three kegs free. And then from 8 to 9 I give them open bar. They don't put a dime out," Fraioli said.
On Aug. 18 at 6:30 p.m., beer-thirsty law students began to trickle into the empty bar to get their first official fix of the rigorous and grueling semester. An hour and a half later the place was virtually packed.
Students said they enjoyed the bottled beer and mixed drinks provided during the open bar.
Erin Bray, first-year law student, said she heard about TGIF from the upperclassmen.
"All the 1Ls were planning on coming," Bray said while sipping a vodka and cranberry. "I think it's a great way for students to get to meet each other. You get to know the older kids, and you get to meet more of your own classmates. It's a great break from the classroom."
"There's so much homework and reading on any given weeknight," said first-year law student Dominic Golemi as he clutched a free draft beer. "It's good to just hang out with students outside the classroom and classroom environment."
Sonny Marks, staff writer for the law student publication The Civilian, suggested the beer was being paid for with student fees in his August article "FAQs for 1Ls."
But Student Bar Association President Amanda Gross denied there was any truth in the statement in reference to student fees going toward beer.
"It's illegal to use state money for alcohol," Gross said. "I don't know where [Marks] got that from."
Last spring most TGIF parties took place at Fred's, said Gross. More than half of the students showed up to the first one, she said, and about one-third of law students attended the remainder.
The second TGIF of the fall semester has already been planned for Sept. 1, Gross said.
----- Contact Leah Square at lsquare@lsureveille.com.
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