Re-Opening of UMass Dartmouth Bar Causes Bit of Controversy

UMass Dartmouth is extending the hours of the University Club, which serves beer and wine to students and faculty members.

The grand re-opening of the UBar with extended hours planned for Thursday night received some negative attention from at least one student advocate when she heard there may be an appearance by the "Miller Lite Girls."

Mariah Tarentino, a third-year student and member of the campus' Center for Women, Gender and Sexuality, wrote an open letter in protest of the objectification of women in the context of an event where alcohol would be present. "So people are going to be drunk. There's going to be women in probably skimp outfits, which is fine, they can choose to wear them. But it promotes sexualizing women around alcohol, and on a campus where alcohol-facilitated violence is a massive problem," said Tarentino.

Tarentino posted her open letter on various social media pages linked to the university. Campus officials have since reached out, assuring Tarentino the Miller Lite promotional team would be dressed appropriately, not provocatively.