DJ’s On the Hill became the first Marshall Street bar to host a night dedicated to underage students when it held an “18 and older” night last Tuesday.

The “18 and older” night will be held every Tuesday, said Dean Whittles, owner of the bar. He said last Tuesday hundreds of students came to DJ’s.

The idea came after DJ’s hired an outside, local agency, Spectrum Security, to handle security at the bar. Spectrum Security guards now control the entrance and the overall security of customers, which mostly consists of students, Whittles said.

Whittles and DJ’s managers then started brainstorming with Spectrum about how underage students could be a part of Syracuse nightlife.

“Since we now have a professional, licensed security company, I decided to try out Tuesday nights to give the underage kids somewhere to go that is still safe, and you guys can still mingle,” Whittles said. “And I know you all like to dance, so that’s where it all came from.”

So that DJ’s can avoid any “incidents on the Hill,” wristbands are given to patrons 21 and older, and those underage are stamped, Whittles said. Spectrum maintains the floor and “ensures that the underage are not illegally drinking.”

On any given night, DJ’s has five to six security guards, Whittles said.

“I felt as though it was time to have professional people that really know what they’re doing and can really handle a crowd in any type of situation to keep students safe,” he said.

Sawyer Block, a freshman in the School of Information Studies, went to DJ’s last Tuesday and said he thought the “18 and older” night was a good idea for the bar.

“It was really crowded when I was there,” Block said. “But despite that, the security was pretty smooth.”

Though Dave Shabshis, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, liked the idea of an “18 and older night,” he said he doesn’t think DJ’s should hold it more often during the week.

“They should only have it be one night because otherwise it will be too crowded,” he said. “There will be too many people there to enjoy it.”

Shabshis, who was at DJ’s last Tuesday, said the bar was very crowded for a weeknight.

He said he doesn’t think the other Marshall Street bars will follow DJ’s “18 and older night” because they serve “older crowds.” Harry’s Bar, however, might be a possibility, Shabshis said.

Whittles said everyone was happy about the idea. He has received numerous phone calls from underage students thanking him for “a place that they can go.”

“I wanted to create a safe environment so that you guys can walk to, be with your friends and still enjoy SU night life,” he said.

Whittles added he is encouraging feedback, but viewed last Tuesday night as a success and will continue “18 and over night” every Tuesday.

Said Whittles: “Let’s be honest: this is all about you guys being safe and you guys having a place to enjoy yourselves.”

Published on January 21, 2013 at 11:19 pm

Contact Meredith: mhnewman@syr.edu | @MerNewman93