University of California Berkeley - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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The night has arrived. It ' s 10:30 Satur- day night and I have finally brushed off the last vestiges of a slightly drunken slumber and have spent the late after- noon regenerating and preparing for the festivities to come. Although coming to school at Berkeley certainly wasn ' t my prime choice when judged by its level of nightlife, I figured that other schools with more incredible nightlife wouldn ' t necessarily promote my academic endeavors. But on Friday and Saturday night Berkeley actually does come alive with a bizarre energy all its own. To start a good night off, a good substantial meal is essential. Berkeley has much to be found in this department. From Chez Panisse and Santa Fe Bar and Grill down to Top Dog and Oscar ' s, one can eat just about anything for almost any amount of money. Food is a very important part of nightlife in the Berkeley area, and many couples and groups can always be seen lining up to get in- to this or that popular restaurant. Of course, for many students, this may be the only really good meal they will eat all week, especially if they live in the dorms or are lazy apartment dwellers like myself. Post-eating but pre-partying, I head for the nearest cafe to recharge before the activities to come. These are the havens f or scintillating conversation and psuedo-intelligence in Berkeley. Double cap to go is a universally understood catch phrase of daily stu- dent life, but on a Saturday night it ' s bet- ter to hang out for a bit and watch the people. Next to you is inevitably a self- proclaimed poet talking about one of the greatest feminist writers of the early 19th century . Of course, the cafes are hot spots every night, including weekdays. The best time to hit them is right around finals and midterms. This brings another mighty form of entertain- ment to mind, the libraries. Most people wouldn ' t call going to the library entertainment except for the fact that it isn ' t actually studying either. People go to see each other and to look for that mythical perfect guy in their Econ class, or that full babe in their History section. Anyway, the libraries are a part of the nightlife in Berkeley whether one uses them or not. While cafes and libraries are no doubt lively, parties are more along my lines for entertainment. This form of nightlife is universal in its appeal. All groups have some form of party whether it be an in- timate social gathering to promote academia or a rip-roaring, keg-a-minute fraternity party. Tonight I feel like going to several of the latter. First off, I cruise Warring. All I have to do to find a fraternity party is to listen for illegal sound levels. Although I can ' t get into two of the parties because you ' re not in the house, dearie , the third one is a huge six-way exchange that is open to almost anyone. Pushing my way through the front door I can ' t help but notice the Esprit labels, the button-down shirts, and the glint of white teeth. The air smells of beer, dancefloor sweat, and Polo intermingling, forming a cacaphony of scents. I wait fifteen minutes per beer and dance a then leave. Next I venture to an apartment party down the street. From the looks of it, I guess I ' m the only one there that doesn ' t know everyone else until I spot my friends talking to some girls. They tell me the punch is great and that more people are supposed to come later, but that ' s what they always say. One of the girls lives in the apartment and she is already frightfully drunk, which is fine because she doesn ' t really want to think about the carpet stains she will have to clean up tomorrow. I ' ve had about all I can handle of this scene, and depart with a friend to check out the co-op par- ty nearby. This party is definitely a theme party of some sort ... but we can ' t figure out what the theme is. But that ' s okay. The party is pretty packed, and many are dancing to the band that is playing in the corner, Dead Dog Spittle. We stay away from the punch on account of its sup- posed nasty hallucinogenic side effects. One girl is playing with a six foot python in the corner, and another guy is painting on the walls with day-glo fingerpaints under a black light. I decide I can ' t handle much more of this and begin to wonder whether the beer was spiked as well. I try to get my friend to leave, but he ' s busy talking to a girl with a multi-colored face who says she ' s disguised as confetti. Even though this party seems stranger than the ones we visited earlier, it also seems more en- joyable to the people here. The Greek parties often seem too contrived to be fun and apartment parties often lack the energy to take off; but these people really seem as if they ' ve cut themselves loose for the night. After a late night trip to Blondies, I feel a bit more refreshed, and realizing that it ' s only 12:30, decide to see who ' s play- ing at the Berkeley Square. On the way down University Avenue, I pass a bunch of my friends coming out of the movie theater. They caught some good flicks, and we ' re now ready for some high- energy fun. We all head off to the Square to see the Neon Turtles. The smoke-filled room and the stamped hands are familiar sights, instantly put- ting me at ease. The band is hot, but I decide that the gyrating bodies and loud music are too much for my partied-out system. I have a few more drinks and then cut out. My walking is slowed by the effect of the alcohol, but I pick up a six-pack anyway and show up at my friend ' s house. Everyone is mostly high or drunk and sprawled out on a huge bed. I give my beers away and settle down to watch a rented video of Breakfast of Tif- fany ' s. It is now nearly three and I think it was an evening well spent, having met some new people and having had good times with the old. I now feel comfor- tably sluggish, and at 4:45 I fall asleep with my head in someone ' s lap to dream of Betty ' s Oceanview Cafe for breakfast. I feel satisfied in making the most of Berkeley ' s nightlife. All I can say is that: There ' s more to life than books, you know, but not much more. — Ramsay Lewis

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The Sweet Smell of Success: In August 1985 Jus ' Poppin ' opened its doors in the lob- by of the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union modestly enough. Despite the lack of fanfare, the event marked a first in University of California history. For the first time, students had a place designated especially for them in which to establish businesses. Senior Afro-American studies major Eshe Faizah, (formerly Marcia Richards) the first student entrepreneur to take advantage of this oppor- tunity, began selling freshly popped, piping hot popcorn complete with a variety of spicy and sweet ' toppings. To casual observers, the opening went off without a hitch; but Greg Bulanti, ASUC Director of Student Services, described the process of implementing the program as long and drawn-out. The idea was originally proposed in the ASUC Senate in 1984 when a group of students wanted space to sell pizza in the Bear ' s Lair to compete with local sellers. From there the idea evolved into what it is today. Instead of planning space for already competitive markets, the ASUC decided to limit the type of products that could be sold. Said Bulanti, We wanted to guarantee a certain level of success to students involved in this very educa- tional program. There ' s enough experience to be gained in running the business itself without having to worry about competition, which would only hurt these small busines ses. Adding to the the distinctiveness of thepro- gram, specially designed booths would set them apart from other businesses that the ASUC runs in order to make them uniquely student oriented. To allow as many students to participate as possible, the businesses are given a one year non-renewable lease. The leases are staggered so that two new businesses will not open concurrently. Bulanti explained, This fall Jus ' Pop- pin ' opened, and we waited until spring to let the Smore Store open. This way, there is a new application process each semester for the expiring lease. Indeed the program, even in its infant stage has been competetive. For each booth that opened this year there were five finalists from an application pool of twelve. The process was not an easy one for Jus ' Poppin ' s Faizah, and many less tenacious students would have been discouraged. I got the run around from the University for a year and a half after I first heard about the program. The long wait until the program was implemented in its final form was frustrating for Faizah. In the meantime though, she used the waiting period to fully research and develop her product. I decided on popcorn because people today are health-conscious and popcorn has always been a favorite snack. With the help of the Alameda County library, Faizah researched the nutritional value of all her seventeen popcorn recipes. She also initiated a class on student entrepreneurship with DE-Cal (Democratic Educa- tion at Cal). Finally, after six or seven starting dates, we began selling popcorn. Right next door to Jus ' Poppin ' another store serving delicious edibles opened for business in February 1986. Brother and sister team, Gary and Brenda Kulp, run the Smore Store, which offers old-fashioned graham cracker, marshmallow, and chocolate Smores just like at a camp- fire. Gary Kulp ' s entrepreneurial aspirations were the im- petus for the project. I ' ve always been interested in star- ting my own business. When I went to Santa Barbara I was involved in an enterpreneur ' s club down there. When he found out about the program, he decided he was going to apply even though he had no idea what to produce. We were really limited by ASUC regulations. We couldn ' t sell anything that competed with businesses within a quarter mile of the University or with the ASUC. That meant we could basically sell pet rocks. Due to an inspiration in the middle of the night, the Kulps settled on Smores and eager- ly submitted the lengthy application, eventually beating out four other competitors. Both Faizah and the Kulps have been satisfied with the experience that running a store offers. Faizah comments, It ' s been more of a challenge and less of a problem than I expected. I ' m well organized because I have to be, and I put in a lot of hard work; but I love the business. The Kulps, although satisfied with their experience, admit to some disappointments. When we first opened we ex- pected people to be flocking to our doors. But, we were charging too much to compete with the dollar -a-slice piz- za, so we ' re learning to play with the formula to make it work. Perhaps the Kulp ' s more cautious optimism is due to the fact that the Smore Store has not been open as long the now established Jus ' Poppin ' . Both sets of owners have different plans for the future. After graduating in May, Faizah plans to open a branch of Jus ' Poppin ' on Shattuck. The Kulps on the other hand have no plans to expand their business. I wouldn ' t want it for more than a year. It ' s a big demand on our time, and it ' s homework that suffers. According to Greg Bulanti, the program may very well become a permanent part of the ASUC. I think we ' ll definitely extend the program beyond the two year trial period. It ' s been a great success. Anne Campbell