Bar forced to keep drinkers inside Palladium

Larry Moneta Associate Vice Provost for University Life As the scent of spring begins to drift through the air, so too have University students drifted toward the Palladium since 1986 in anticipation of outdoor company and slight inebriation. No longer. Palladium co-owner Roger Harman said last night that the Locust Walk restaurant and bar would no longer serve alcohol on its terrace. Harman said that when the Palladium's lease of its terrace property came up for renewal this year, the University agreed to renew only if the Palladium eliminated liquor service outside. And Harman said that while he does not agree with the University's decision to ban outdoor liquor use at the Palladium, he does not see any option for recourse. "We think that it's a misguided policy," Harman said. "We don't really have that much bargaining power. They're our landlord, and I'm not sure if we have legal recourse." "It's pretty difficult to fight the University," he added. The Palladium is currently under two different leases, with its inside space leased from the Christian Association and its terrace leased from the University, Harman said. Harman said the Palladium "pleaded economic hardship" to avoid ending its outdoor liquor service entirely this year, and has been granted a transition period from June through part of August. No alcohol will be served at all on the terrace this year except during these months, and beer and wine will only be served with meals between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Harman said the restrictions are both frustrating and unnecessary. "We run a licensed liquor establishment, and we are monitored by the state only too well," Harman said. "The University has a lot of problems on their own with alcohol use, and they seem to be singling us out . . . we have a lot more control than a lot of other places across the University." Harman said that while he and the other owners have been dealing with Associate Treasurer Christopher Mason, they believe that the real estate office is just carrying out a University plan to ban all outdoor liquor consumption. "I'm not exactly sure who did make the decision [against the Palladium]," Harman said. Mason could not be reached for comment last night. Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta said that while the real estate office is responsible for the action taken against the Palladium, he agrees with the fundamental tenets of the outdoor liquor ban. "For those students who are of legal drinking age, I'm not a prohibitionist, but I think that [drinking outdoors at the Palladium] right in the dead center of campus is probably problematic," Moneta said. Vice Provost for University Life Kim Morrisson said that her office, in addition to the office of public safety, was consulted before the decision was made. "I believe that the Palladium has had visits from the Liquor Enforcement people from the state," Morrisson said, referring to the Liquor Control Enforcement's raid on the Palladium earlier this academic year. Morrisson said, however, that her office did not initiate the change. Both Moneta and Morrisson pointed to the University's Alcohol and Drug Task Force as a possible source of the new policy, but Task Force Tri-Chairperson JoAnn Zoll said her organization was not involved. "This is not something that was done within the context of the task force," Zoll said. "Alcohol and drug education serves as a resource, but we're not making any specific suggestions to any businesses, including the Palladium." Harman and co-owner Duane Ball will print an open letter to the University community in the Daily Pennsylvanian tomorrow.