Postcrypt: show must go on

Last month, Ginia Sweeney, CC ’10 and manager of Postcrypt Coffeehouse, feared that the student-run music venue might not survive through the end of the year.

But members said Thursday that, while Postcrypt will likely lose its free popcorn, they are hopeful that, for at least a few more months, they will be holding on to their historic location in St. Paul’s Chapel—along with the microbrew beer and free folk music shows. After administrators imposed new regulations on the group in December, some said it could be difficult to continue operating.

In December, Postcrypt was asked to hire two alcohol proctors and a security guard—costs that Sweeney said could have run the group out of business—after Public Safety and the Office of Student Group Advising had expressed concerns about underage drinking at the Friday and Saturday night concerts, where beer is sold.

Over the years, Postcrypt has become an organization known for its location, and many worried the loss of St. Paul’s would be a huge blow to the group. Now, some are more optimistic.

Sweeney said that after the club’s woes were made public, the Securities Fund of the Student Governing Board and the Columbia Bartending Association offered to throw in money to hire the additional security.

“We’re hoping we can use the money they’ve offered until we can get this sorted out,” she said.

On Thursday, members of Postcrypt and representatives from SGB met with Jason Anthony, associate director in the Office of Student Affairs, to discuss the venue.

Though a lot is still uncertain and no final decisions were made, there were a few signs of hope at Thursday’s meeting, according to some attendees. Galen Boone, BC ’12, who is set to take over as co-manager next year, said she is optimistic because of the recent additional funds from SGB and CBA, which she predicted could sustain the group for at least a few months.

Boone added that Anthony told them they could keep selling beer if they only sold enough for that evening. She said the advisers were encouraging about a potential appeal to the issues of a security guard and proctors.

But Sweeney said the group’s members were told that a recent fire department inspection had revealed a number of safety hazards—a further obstacle.

“It seems like one little thing triggered this huge barrage of problems,” said Sweeney, adding, “It’s just kind of piling up.” She said she has been in love with Postcrypt since she was a junior in high school.

But Boone said she is optimistic that the group will be up and running again in the basement of St. Paul’s for its first show of the semester on Jan. 29. She said the members hope to lobby the Office of the University Chaplain to pay to get the building up to code.

Associate Dean of Student Affairs Todd Smith said in a statement to Spectator that OSGA recognizes the importance of Postcrypt and only hopes to support student groups and activities.

“As we work together through questions of safety and policy, it remains our hope that Postcrypt Coffeehouse can continue to provide an event for performers and students to enjoy,” Smith said in the statement.

At a meeting in December, Postcrypt members said administrators had suggested to find a new space on campus, decrease the frequency of their events from biweekly to bimonthly, and stop selling alcohol.

“We don’t want to be in a fluorescent-lit glass space in Lerner,” Boone said. “That’s not folk.”

Devora Aharon, CC ’10 and chair of SGB, said that many of the administration’s demands appeared to be unfounded.

“There didn’t seem to be a clear reasoning behind it,“ she said of the new requirement for a security guard and alcohol proctors. “We want to really question every change and see what’s actually necessary and why.”

Booking manager Lauraly Grossman, BC ’12, said group members agree that they do not want to break with Postcrypt tradition by charging a cover fee or moving to a new location.

She said that Postcrypt’s recent interactions with the administration have been tense, adding that she learned recently that Postcrypt had clashed with the administration in 2001 as well.

“It’s happened before, and Postcrypt got through it. I think the difference now is that the administration has changed,” she said.

The group has another meeting scheduled with OSGA, Public Safety, and the Office of the Chaplain, at which Sweeney said she hopes to smooth out the remaining issues and lobby for a return to the regulations of last semester.

“I’m just trying to think of the next semester as continuing as we always have,” she said. “We have people who come here every weekend. It’s a staple of the neighborhood. It’s a huge asset to the University. It just doesn’t make sense that the administration is challenging it the way they are."

leah.greenbaum@columbiaspectator.com

Correction: An earlier version of this article said that Ginia Sweeney was BC '10. She is CC '10. Spectator regrets the error.