TwelvEighty Bar and Grill releases three new ambassador meal specials, designed by prominent students of the McMaster community
On Feb. 24, 2025, TwelvEighty Bar and Grill and the McMaster Students Union announced three new ambassador meal specials to their menu, designed in partnership with prominent student figures. These meals, available until the end of the current academic year, were developed with input from student ambassadors and created by TwelvEighty’s chef, Wes Chaplin.
In an interview, MSU president Jovan Popovic and MSU food and beverage manager Mike Asquith shared details about the initiative’s purpose.
According to Popovic, the initiative aims to highlight students who are active in the McMaster community.
“We were looking for prominent people on campus, people that a vast majority of the students would be able to connect with, relate to, know or have heard of . . . Each of these people are very public-facing figures who played a significant role on campus . . . these are people who are very well accomplished and all their roots come back to this university and this campus,” said Popovic.
Each of these people are very public-facing figures who played a significant role on campus.
Jovan Popovic
President, McMaster Students Union
The first ambassador meal introduced on TwelvEighty’s Instagram was Maxime Gratton’s breakfast burger. The Gratton Breakfast Burger features a four-ounce beef patty, sunny-side egg, onion rings, bacon, potato hickory sticks and chilli aioli on a toasted brioche bun, served with a choice of a side.
Gratton, a fifth-year psychology student and player for the men’s volleyball team, has contributed to three OUA championship wins. He is also the founder of Airtime Athletics, a training program for young athletes. He is known for sharing volleyball clips on his Instagram, which has over 4,000 followers.
The second ambassador meal introduced was Mackenzie Barwell’s Poke Bowl. Barwell, a fourth-year communications and political science student, has worked in sports media at McMaster as an in-game host for the Marauders and is the creator of the Marauder Mondays video series. She has also collaborated with organizations like Forge FC, the World University Games and Canada Basketball.
The Mac Barwell Bowl includes tuna, rice, guacamole, tomato, edamame, green onion, carrots, pickled red cabbage, corn, poke sauce and sesame seeds.
The last ambassador meal introduced was Miguel Gonzales’s DJ Migz Mix. Gonzales, also known as DJ Migz, is a recent graduate from the honours kinesiology program with 12 years of DJing experience. He has performed for campus events, including Homecoming 2024 and Welcome Week concerts.
His DJ Migz Mix includes blackened chicken, Cajun rice, sautéed onion and peppers, cheese, corn, lettuce, sour cream, salsa, guacamole and lime. A side of chips and salsa can also be purchased for an additional $2.
In an Instagram post, DJ Migz stated that his ambassador meal is gluten-free and chipotle-inspired.
“As someone with many allergies, I tailored this meal to be inclusive of dietary needs by ensuring it is free of many common allergens! Many of the ingredients are also easily substitutable to be able to accommodate any further restrictions,” stated Migz.
I tailored this meal to be inclusive of dietary needs by ensuring it is free of many common allergens!
Miguel Gonzales (DJ Migz)
Recent Graduate, Honours Kinesiology
Asquith described the initiative as an opportunity to test new menu items with direct student involvement.
“It gives us a great test for new items to see if maybe this is something we could add in the future as a more permanent fix,” said Asquith.
The student ambassadors provided general descriptions of what they wanted their dishes to include. TwelvEighty’s chef, Wes, refined the concepts into final menu items.
Popovic mentioned that most of the ingredients used in the dishes were already available in the kitchen, which minimized the need to source additional ingredients and ensured that meals could be easily incorporated into the existing menu.
“While we needed the creative vision from Wes to really make these actual dishes, it was fully inspired by the direction that the students gave us,” said Popovic.
Asquith mentioned that TwelvEighty aims to collaborate more with student groups and clubs. He noted that the restaurant is also diversifying its menu, with a growing focus on cultural variety, which it plans to continue.
“We are trying to show this year that we’re open to anything. We just need to make the right connections and do it well,” said Asquith.
The new menu items are available to order both in person and ahead on TwelvEighty’s website. They will be available until the end of the winter 2025 semester.
In the race for MSU presidency, McMaster socialite Piper Plavins hopes to improve student advocacy, resource awareness and implement practical reform
McMaster Students Union 2025 presidential candidate Piper Plavins' platform is focused on three major pillars: improving the everyday experience of students, improving the student voice through advocacy and increased student involvement in campus politics, and improving the services of the MSU.
Enhancing Access and Awareness of Student Resources and Services
Recognizing the importance of student involvement and believing it important to address a lack of student awareness surrounding extracurricular opportunities and MSU services, Plavins proposes to create and implement an event called "MSU Week" to promote the services and events offered by the establishment.
The week would consist of five days of activities designed to highlight the various services, clubs and resources available through the MSU. Each day will focus on a specific theme. Plavins proposes that the first day would be a job fair for students to learn about MSU job opportunities, with the other days dedicated to MSU services and initiatives, student advocacy opportunities, financial management and the various support and resources available to students.
Plavin also wants to improve campus events and further utilize campus resources to improve campus life and student experience. These include ideas such as comedy nights and maintaining a commitment to Homecoming.
Her platform also proposes an expansion of the Holiday Market expansion, with the intention of having an artificial skating rink at the market and a focus on student-run small businesses and "a diverse range of cultural vendors."
Plavins' final point of her first platform pillar is to build a sense of community in the Student Representative Assembly. Plavins proposes an SRA exclusive retreat to encourage a more collaborative form of student governance. She believes an SRA with a stronger sense of community will foster a more positive atmosphere and greater cooperation within the assembly and the MSU.
Improving Student Advocacy
Plavins' platform proposes a restructuring of club policy aimed at enabling students to create "higher-level clubs" and encouraging student-run clubs to become more self-sufficient by implementing training to find sponsors.
Her platform also voices support for current McMaster MSU President Jovan Popovic’s Soup and Bread Initiative. In addition, she has indicated the program should offer different traditional options from various backgrounds to make the program more inclusive.
Her platform on food insecurity proposes an increase in the Food Collective Centre budget by $5,000. The FCC is the MSU's student-run food security resource, committed to alleviating food insecurity among students.
Advocating for accessibility is another component of her advocacy promises. Her platform includes advocating for classrooms to be made to be more accessible to all students. She suggests this would minimize the need for individual accommodations and foster a more inclusive learning environment for everyone.
Plavins' platform also advocates for continued support from the MSU regarding housing. She claims she recognizes the work of the MSU on this issue, but says in her platform she thinks the MSU needs to provide further support for students finding housing.
Operational Excellence of the MSU
Plavins claims the Lot M bus schedule is unreliable, so she proposes to collaborate with Parking Services to establish a consistent and reliable bus schedule. For those commuting to campus and in need of parking, Plavins proposes a more affordable parking pass option with a proposed student "flex pass" so that students can pay for a set number of hours to park in different locations. She indicates these platform points are aimed at improving life for commuter students.
The platform also suggests that the design and image of TwelvEighty Bar & Grill should be changed to reflect what she says is The Grind's more casual atmosphere.
In the final aspect of her platform, Plavins proposes a new program pairing 2SLGBTQIA+ first-year students with upper-year mentors. She proposes this would be run through the Pride Community Centre. It would aim to address unique challenges faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ students, such as issues in transitioning to university and feeling less connected to school and experiencing discrimination.
Overall, Piper Plavins' platform focuses on enhancing student life through increasing the MSU's advocacy efforts, student advocacy, along with proposals to expand and support student clubs and certain MSU services.
Simon Mills’ MSU presidential platform aims to create a more connected, inclusive and supportive McMaster community
Simon Mills, a candidate for the 2025 McMaster Students Union presidential election, is running with goals of strengthening and building McMaster's student community, improving student life and addressing issues such as mental health support, athletics and student rights.
Mills, who has worked at TwelvEighty Bar and Grill for several years, has a platform focusing on five core pillars, which are student life, athletic events and support, club engagement and on-campus well-being and safety.
Mills' vision for student life at McMaster involves revitalizing popular campus events and spaces. His platform mentions enhancing Light Up the Night, an annual campus event, by bringing in more "dynamic and engaging" performers, improving crowd management and expanding food truck offerings.
Mills also expresses a desire to revitalize TwelvEighty and Union Market, suggesting that they are underutilized spaces on campus. He plans to introduce consistent student events like karaoke, trivia and live music at TwelvEighty and stock Union Market with healthier food options and improve its look with student art.
Mills platform proposes adding additional elements to Homecoming, such as interfaculty games prior to the main football game and beer gardens. He also proposes a four day long "MSU Cup" event, which he describes as being like a "faculty olympics," as students would compete in various sports representing their faculties.
In an effort to boost student engagement with athletics, Mills wants to create more exciting game-day experiences. He wants to introduce giveaways, raffles and tailgating to attract more to sports events. Proposing to collaborate with Athletics and Recreation, he hopes to make game days more engaging with "interactive fan zones" and celebrations for important events.
Mills is also advocating for better support for student-athletes. He proposes organizing opportunities for current student-athletes to network and learn from alumni who were student-athletes. Mills also proposes organizing academic support for athletes specifically, including tutoring and study sessions and workshops to help them balance their schedules.
Mills believes that clubs play a crucial role in student life. He proposes creating a "Club Vision Program," a matchmaking tool to help students connect with clubs that align with their interests. He also calls for more frequent club fairs, two to three per year, to ensure students have ample opportunities to engage with clubs beyond the first semester.
Mills states he wants to streamline the event planning process and simplify the event health and safety approval process, ensuring clubs can organize events more efficiently. Additionally, he indicates in his platform that he wishes to collaborate with Bounce to better the ticketing system for club events.
Mills platform iterates the importance of safety and well-being for students, particularly in terms of mental health and physical safety. His platform calls for more advocacy for increased mental health resources on campus to reduce wait times for appointments with the Student Wellness Centre. He also wants to advocate for better lighting in parking lots and pathways, increased funding and new equipment for the student-run Emergency First Response Team and additional emergency call stations.
Additionally, Mills wants to advocate for online information on parking availability and shuttle bus trackers to make commuting easier for students.
Mills' platform proposes advocating for students on the issues of housing and parking enforcement. He plans to advocate for the permanent implementation of Hamilton's Rental Housing Licensing Pilot Program to increase the quality of rental conditions for students. Mills also wants to advocate against what he claims to be "predatory" and disproportionate parking enforcement in the areas near McMaster.
Mills platform also mentions creating a new service that would be called the "Academic Integrity Guardians," whose role would be to support students accused of inappropriately using AI in their course work.
Mills additionally proposes collaborating with McMaster Library services to enhance library study spaces by increasing the number of power outlets and desktop monitor accessibility.
Finally, he also plans to collaborate with Hamilton Bike Share to establish more bike rack areas outside of and near the university with high numbers of students.
Simon Mills' platform focuses on enhancing student life, supporting athletes, improving campus safety, and advocating for better housing and parking policies.
Simon Mills' presidential student-engagement-oriented platform raises some concerns about financial and logistical feasibility
Simon Mills, a candidate for the 2025 McMaster Students Union presidential election, has a platform focused on enhancing student events, supporting students, addressing affordability and various advocacy issues. However, aspects of his platform could benefit from additional clarity, structure and insight.
Funding
Mills shared with the Silhouette that his proposals for Light Up the Night, his proposed "MSU Cup," and integrating more campus-wide events depend on the upcoming referendum vote on Homecoming and Large Events to increase student fees by $20.00. Considering this, these points of his platform rely on the passing of a referendum, which has yet to be determined one way or another.
Mills claimed that the $20.00 fee increase for Homecoming would secure funding for the next five years. He also suggested that the MSU has the option of generating revenue through corporate sponsorships, for example, with Tim Hortons. However, he did not clarify how this partnership would be structured or outline a plan to generally increase advertising efforts. "We could potentially get Tim Hortons in here to advertise,” said Mills.
Mills himself acknowledged that the financial model for many of his proposals is still unclear. “I don’t know exactly the current financial state of everything,” said Mills. Recognizing this uncertainty of his own campaign points, his platform could benefit from greater consultation with the MSU accounting department or Vice-President (Finance).
Mills' proposal to revitalize TwelvEighty by creating a more social and vibrant space with events like karaoke and trivia nights aims to encourage students to gather. However, this idea could also benefit from further details on funding and sustainability. Mills suggested that student volunteers could help revamp Union Market by painting murals, which he argued would be a cost-effective way to add vibrancy.
Services
Mills' platform also focused on mental health support. He has promised to advocate for reducing the current wait times for non-life-threatening issues, which can range from two to three weeks. While Mills’ goal of advocacy for mental health is commendable, his approach to addressing the wait times lacks specific, actionable details.
Sean Van Koughnett, Associate Vice-President of Student Affairs, provided important context about the limitations of increasing staff. He mentioned that while McMaster has more mental health professionals than the surrounding community, "Increasing the number of mental health professionals requires fee increases beyond CPI adjustments, which must be approved by the Student Services Advisory Committee and the SRA," stated Van Koughnett.
Mills also raised concerns about the feasibility of peer support services, claiming past failures where volunteers were not properly trained to handle critical situations. His approach seems to be centred on professional staff rather than student volunteers. While his concern is valid, additional clarity on how he would collaborate with the university to secure the necessary funds for this initiative would strengthen his platform.
In his platform, he also mentioned his hope to work with library staff to increase the number of electrical power outlets and optimize study spaces. Lynne Serviss, Associate University Librarian, shared her insights on this in an email to the Silhouette,
"While the library cannot add additional outlets, we can work on optimizing access to the existing ones. The Libraries are willing to collaborate with Simon to explore ways to enhance easy access to chargers and electrical outlets," stated Serviss.
Club and Events
Mills also suggested that his proposed "MSU Cup," a team competition sorted by faculty, and smaller events like scavenger hunts could be held as a new annual event.
Keenan Jeppesen, the Athletics and Recreation Director, supported Mills' vision, noting that tailgating and giveaways at sporting events could generate excitement. However, he also cautioned, "Logistically, implementing such programs would require careful coordination with teams, facilities, and schedules," stated Jeppesen. This highlights the need for more strategic planning to ensure inclusivity and participation in campus events.
Mills acknowledged the challenge of engaging commuter students, who often feel disconnected from campus life. He suggested that supporting increased club involvement could help bridge this gap, providing commuters with a sense of community.
Mills proposed a new "Club Vision Program," a matchmaking questionnaire that pairs students with clubs that align with their interests, cultural and religious identities, or other preferences. It would serve as a tool to increase club membership numbers. Rene Hares, MSU club admin, stated that a program can be implemented after internal discussion and financial budgeting.
This approach also raises concerns about streamlining communication between clubs. Mills suggested increasing the use of Bounce and providing increased training for clubs.
Despite this being central to his goal, Mills did not fully provide details on how club events could be tailored to the unique needs of commuters or made more accessible for students who face logistical challenges attending after-hours events. For example, event times could be adjusted, and virtual participation options could be offered. Additionally, addressing transportation or parking challenges might also improve accessibility to club events for commuter students.
Simon Mills’ campaign for MSU President offers a passionate vision for McMaster’s student life. Mills' proposals have potential, though he has done little to clarify how we would approach logistical and financial considerations. Mill's platform could overall benefit from better addressing these considerations and collaborating more with key experts who would be involved in his proposal implementations.
If you have walked into TwelvEighty or Bridges Café since school started, you might have noticed some significant changes from last year. Both campus restaurants have introduced new menu items, seeking to expand the types of foods offered and introduce fresh takes on typical campus foods.
TwelvEighty, the bar and grill situated in the basement of the student centre, is known for its affordable restaurant-quality foods and campus nightlife events. TwelvEighty usually swaps six or seven menu items at the beginning of each year. This year, however, 16 items were added.
“This is the first time we have majorly renovated the menu for about five years,” said food and beverage manager Richard Haja. “So this year we did quite a large revamp.”
The restaurant held focus groups before the year began to test out new items on potential customers.
Haja is particularly excited about the addition of vegetarian bowls, which consist of a mix of vegetables to which a variety of protein options, such as chicken or tofu, can be added. According to Haja, these have garnered a very positive student response thus far.
“It’s kind of on trend right now,” said Haja. “The bowls themselves are all in the $6.99 range. That’s one of the cheapest values on campus because it alone as a vegetarian option in some cases is by far the cheapest you’ll find around.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BnWnV-sn-2r/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Other new items include various desserts, a jerk chicken club wrap and macaroni and cheese balls. TwelvEighty has been working to add more vegetarian, halal and gluten-free options. Haja says that the ethnic diversity of McMaster has inspired the chefs to appeal to a wider variety of tastes and cultures.
“It’s not just the individual’s ethnicity,” said Haja. “It’s that people are traveling and people are experiencing new tastes and new cultures, so they’re almost expecting those flavours to be in their everyday life now.”
Along with a culinary revamp, TwelvEighty has undergone a physical transformation. In addition to opening The Grind last year, TwelvEighty renovated its floor. It is also considering the addition of seating spaces.
Like TwelvEighty, Bridges Café has also recently redesigned its menu, adding ten new options for customers this year.
Currently, Bridges Café is the only campus restaurant that exclusively serves vegetarian and vegan options. The new items include vegan sloppy joes, vegan pad thai and crispy avocado halves.
Director of McMaster Hospitality Services Chris Roberts said that the menu changes were made with the growing diversity of McMaster in mind.
Bridges is also experiencing its fifteenth anniversary in Jan. 2019. To celebrate the milestone, the café is adding highlights from the past fifteen years back to its menu.
Ultimately, Roberts is pleased with the changes. Bridges had record sales during opening week and Roberts says that student feedback on the rebranding has been positive.
Bridges remains committed to providing quality vegetarian and vegan food for many on campus at the same standard prices. With these new changes, Roberts hopes that even more students, particularly non-vegetarians, will come in for a meal.
“We hope the new branding and menu will attract a new customer base, one that has not traditionally eaten plant-based foods,” said Roberts. “We want to encourage a healthier, more nutritious diet for students. You no longer have to be a vegetarian to enjoy plant-based foods. It’s a lifestyle choice now.”
As students have been getting settled in to the rhythm of classes, TwelvEighty and Bridges have been spicing things up by offering fresh foods and environments for Mac students.
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The Grind, the McMaster Students Union-run cafe that was added to TwelvEighty in February 2018, has been churning out more cash than its bar and grill counterpart.
According to a report written by Daniel “Tuba” D’Souza, MSU vice president (Finance), to the Student Representative Assembly, the Grind has been earning an average of $1,000 per day. The cafe is expected to increase TwelvEighty’s revenue by 22 per cent and reduce the overall deficit by approximately $100,000 for the upcoming academic year.
“The success of the Grind shows that the student demographic is changing. For the first time in MSU history we will have sold more coffee than alcohol,” read part of the report. “This is something that needs to be seriously considered when looking at the future of TwelvEighty.”
According to D’Souza, universities and colleges across North America have witnessed a similar trend as pubs and bars languish in popularity.
“Today’s students are burdened with debt and are selective of how they spend their money, prioritizing experiences and quality over quantity,” said D’Souza, who believes that campus club culture is not dying, but transforming as students become more conscientious of how and when they spend money on alcohol.
“For the first time in MSU history we will have sold more coffee than alcohol.”
Daniel “Tuba” D’Souza
Vice president (Finance)
McMaster Students Union
D’Souza notes that events such as Homecoming, Light Up The Night and club nights continue to reach maximum capacity, reflecting a continued interest in club culture.
“That volume isn’t replicable throughout the year. From conversations with club promotion companies and past bar owners in the area, students are busy and prioritize school over entertainment more than in past years,” he said.
The Grind’s financial success is also a byproduct of the increasing use of coffee shops as study spaces. In light of the high demand for seating at the Grind, D’Souza has proposed the allocation of funds to renovate the dance floor and staging area of TwelvEighty to expand the cafe.
The proposal still has to be approved by the incoming Student Representative Assembly, and the nuances of it will depend on the plans of next year’s leadership and TwelvEighty’s management.
“TwelvEighty is currently our biggest cost centre but will show marked improvements with the addition of the Grind,” read part of the report.
In his report, D’Souza suggests that TwelvEighty should focus on improving its serving style, menu options, use of technology, ease of ordering and marketing strategy. However, in the report, he does not elaborate on what he means by these areas of improvement.
In his year-plan, D’Souza sought to implement an online ordering system for TwelvEighty. Nevertheless, this promise was abandoned as feasibility and logistical issues emerged in the fall of 2017. Whether or not D’Souza seeks to reintroduce this proposal remains unclear.
What is clear, however, is that the Grind is expected to compensate, at least in part, for TwelvEighty’s lack of profit.
During the cafe’s trial period, which occurred before the Grind officially opened for service, feedback forms were released to students. The main demands were for milk substitutes, which are now available at no cost, and increased seating capacity.
“Currently students love the food options, fresh baked scones and cookies, and the daily crepe specials,” said D’Souza. “With its booming success this year the future of the Grind looks bright with students already asking to expand the space more into TwelvEighty.”
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TwelvEighty Bar & Grill has a fresh new café and study space complete with exposed brick, espresso goodness and plenty of outlets. The grand opening will be after the reading week.
https://www.facebook.com/TheMcMasterSilhouette/videos/10156108506934222/
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Since Halloween is a weeklong holiday around Hamilton and McMaster, there’s no shortage of fun events to attend. Halloween falls on a Tuesday this year, so no doubt this upcoming weekend will be filled with spooky events to dress up for (because apparently we have to celebrate starting Thursday and throughout the weekend.)
Party stores are pumping the prices on costumes, and partying in a different costume each night can get expensive. According to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey on Halloween spending habits, this year on average people will spend $86.13 US. And that doesn’t even include nightly festivities, like alcohol or bar cover.
Personally, my favourite part of Halloween is getting creative and making my costumes from scratch. So for those who are planning on partying multiple times this weekend and don’t want to shell out money on multiple expensive costumes, I’ve got you covered with cheap, easy DIY costumes that will be sure to make an impression at any McMaster-adjacent Halloween event
If you’re having trouble finding cheap materials, I suggest Value Village, Dollarama, the Campus Store, and Bunz Trading Zone.
Marauder Football Player. Re-use your homecoming outfit, or buy a jersey from the campus store and you’re instantly a Marauder Football Player! Bruise up your face to look fresh out of rookie training, and if you’re committed, puff your shoulders all night to make you look more intimidating than you actually are!
What you’ll need:
A Party. “Cause baby you’re the life of the party…” If you’re looking for the most low energy costume there is, grab some streamers and red solo cups from the corner store and pin them to your entire body. Realistically, your costume will be a disaster by the end of the night, but that’s just commitment to character.
What you’ll need:
Terri, the dancing Tim Hortons lady. Pay tribute to one of McMaster’s best Terri, the dancing Tim Horton’s employee from the student center. Bring a Timmy’s coffee cup to house your choice beverage for the evening, and do her winning dance whenever you or your friends win at beer pong or need to celebrate.
What you’ll need:
Spotted at Mac. Transform yourself into the iconic student anonymous Facebook page by covering yourself in maroon spots and being everyone’s secret keeper for the night. Relay anonymous messages to and from people at the party and play cupid (or the devil) behind the scenes. For extra effect, start questionably controversial debates with a group of people and slowly walk away to let disaster ensue.
What you’ll need:
TwelvEighty Night + security guard. For the couples who are looking for a cute, matching costume this Halloween, a TwelvEighty night out and security guard is the easiest bang for your buck. One of you can adorn whatever you wear (or used to wear) to TwelvEighty, and the other can be the bouncer.
What you’ll need:
Sobi Bike. Be the chang(ed) (gear) that you want to see in the world. If you’re a fan of our blue transport cycles, then being one for Halloween is a great option. If you’re feeling flirtatious, you can even offer rides.
What you’ll need:
HSR Bus Driver. If you’re planning on showing up to the party really late, or maybe even not at all, this costume for you!
What you’ll need:
What are you planning on being this upcoming weekend?
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By: Janelle Hanson
A rebuttal to “Why TwelvEighty club nights are no longer lit” from the Feb. 2 issue:
The execution of TwelveEighty club nights has never changed – including the lighting and ambiance presented every Thursday night.
It is hard to understand how it has coincidentally become a problem now. Many clubs all over the GTA present the same type of dim-to-dark lighting that simultaneously promote said inconspicuousness.
It is a disrespectful and egoistic claim to insult the appearance of the person you are dancing with.
Refrain from blaming the lighting when your drunken goggles are the real reason for you misinterpreting the visuals of a face that’s been in front of you for an entire night.
In agreement, the music selection has not been the greatest over the last few months. However, TwelvEighty is employed by undergraduate students, (a rule implemented by the MSU), it is only possible to hire selected DJs. Due to the collaboration with Campus Events and the reduced number of club nights left within the year, we can now employ DJs who exceed the undergraduate title, and provide a wider range of music to accommodate the musical interests of all students.
An average Thursday night at TwelvEighty consists of $2.00 coat check, $4.50 cover (or $2.00 before 11pm), and $4.25 drink. That brings you to a cumulative amount of $10.75. Now, lets compare a Thursday night at Trust. This consists of $10.00 cover, $3.00 coat check, and $6.00 drink, a total amount of $19.00. At TwelvEighty, you can buy two more drinks for the price of Trust’s cover.
Prior to the collaboration with Campus Events, TwelvEighty was limited in the space we had to put up promotional posters, and market our club nights. To counter the previous argument, McMaster’s Student Centre is the central hub of the university. That being said, it makes perfect sense for promotional posters to be placed in this strategic space. With the help of additional campus services, you will see more promotion.
By: Axel Stueckmann
McMaster Students Union Campus Events decided to reduce the number of TwelvEighty’s Thursday club nights until the end of the year. Under this new schedule, there are six dates left in the schedule for the semester: Feb. 2 and 16, March 2, 16 and 17 (St. Patrick’s Day) and April 6 (Light Up the Night).
TwelvEighty club nights used to be a staple cemented firmly in McMaster culture. With the decline of the bar’s quality over time and how few dates are left, I have serious doubts about its direction and its ability to live up to expectations. The TwelvEighty I remember begged the question of why not to go, rather than the current negative perceptions about it. It was an atmosphere that provided fun rather than insisting you create it yourself. There are a few key pitfalls that have turned the bar into the epitome of poor management, marketing and a failure to connect with a massive student body.
Aesthetics
It is inconceivable to me that someone planned the rayless lighting system employed at this bar without the foresight to predict why and how it would be bad for the TwelvEighty experience. Numerous friends have had tense encounters with attempted drugging, creepy onlookers and unsolicited advances. Many people simply do not feel safe as the lack of light hides nefarious intentions and promotes inconspicuousness.
While the entire area is poorly lit, even seedier corners lined with black couches worsen the situation even more. It can also be petrifying to see the person you have been dancing with in actual light when they in no way resemble the image you held in your head.
Music
Who is the music at TwelvEigh-ty for? I undoubtedly have hearing loss from the loud blaring of some amateur DJ over the overly-powerful speakers. Play music people actually want to hear. While things like country nights and the annual Battle of the Bands event are good starts, TwelvEighty still needs to mix it up more from the EDM stereotypes. Every successful bar has a wide variety of musical tastes to cater to a large amount of people. TwelvEighty can easily work towards engaging more of the student population and their diverse music preferences.
Price
A few years ago, I pitched the idea of dollar beer night to a friend at the MSU. A year after that recommendation, Ora, an Italian kitchen and bar in Hess, coincidentally began to provide dollar beer nights. Why should I go to TwelvEighty instead?
Hamilton has a thriving nightclub and bar scene readily available with a bus drive. Until TwelvEighty provides experiences that are worth the price, it is simply too difficult to compete with cheaper or better alternatives. Instead of bartenders playing games on their phone in an empty bar, put them to work and have them pour some drinks. If every Thursday was just a bit cheaper, I guarantee that more students would go.
Promotion
No one likes the annoying, intrusive and often cringeworthy social media posts concocted by self-important club promoters, but people need to know that you exist.
TwelvEighty’s Facebook posts have an incredibly small amount of engagement.Unskillfully designed posters that litter an already-cluttered student center does not constitute a groundbreaking marketing strategy. Get the word out there that events are taking place, or no one will come.
It is easy to pick apart TwelvEighty’s downfall in retrospect, but I firmly believe these are all avoidable and fixable issues. If management has chosen to make changes you disagree with or remain complacent not fixing issues, voice your opinions.
If a few people strive to make change, we can all look forward to fun on campus comparable with the atmosphere found in other university towns.
