A new look for Underground

The Underground Cafe reopened this weekend with a new management that is working hard to turn it into an on-campus alcohol-free hangout. Morris Massel, Underground Cafe manager and president of the Interfraternity Council, said he hopes to change the image of the club by catering to a broader audience. He said he wants to attract a "more mainstream crowd" than in the past, when the club was a "bohemian" hangout that served coffee and pastries. The Underground, which is located in the basement of High Rise North, is an alternative for those students who are not interested in the fraternity or bar scene, said Massel, who is a college senior. Massel said the Underground provides "the first hangout on campus." Houston Hall, which could be a hangout for students, has limited appeal because it closes early. The Underground will be open until 2 a.m. on weekends. Massel said the Underground has been a project of Vice Provost for University Life Kim Morrisson's office because "there isn't a place for people to go and hang out." Morrisson's office has been strongly backing the project, he added. The club offers typical bar fare – it's menu consists of such favorites as wings, nachos and pizza. The Underground also has a big screen television, a number of the video games, a pool table and a dance floor. Each night of the week, the club will host a different activity geared specifically to University students. There will be live bands on Thursdays, and a DJ will spin tunes on Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday and Monday are football days for the Underground, while Wednesday will be reserved for diehard fans of Beverly Hills: 90210 and Melrose Place. There is currently no cover charge at the Underground, Massel said, but that may change in the future. The Underground is run and financed by Penn Student Agencies and is managed by Massel, assistant managers and a staff of 10 students. The Underground's opening on Saturday night was very successful, according to Massel. Many students came to see the new club and Massel said he was pleased by the student turn-out, even though the opening was on a holiday weekend.

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