Blues Pub is one of the several student-run bars on campus, providing cheap beverages, delicious food—the grilled cheese is top-tier—and entertainment. While Blues is run by the Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS), it has made the McConnell Engineering Building basement a classic Friday night pit-stop for students from all faculties. One of Blues’ distinguishable features is that it offers live musical performances from bands and DJs, creating an authentic vibe and welcoming environment—which might explain the reaction of students after being hit with news of an amendment to Blues’ policy.
On Feb. 11, Instagram was turned upside down when Blues announced that only students with a Faculty of Engineering McGill ID would be allowed entry. Engineering students would still be allowed two 18+ guests. The announcement resulted in a swift public outcry from unhappy students. While the rationale behind the decision was not made public, students speculated that overcrowding at Blues may have been a driving factor.
Pinak Ghosh, a recent graduate from the Faculty of Engineering and a regular at Blues for years, commented on the bar’s crowd evolution since the pandemic.
“I remember the first Blues back from COVID, during E-Week Feb. 2022. Since then I’ve been a regular [….] When I first went it really was just engineers, only the graduating students really had an attachment to Blues [….] Since they introduced live music many more people from other faculties started coming,” he wrote in a statement to The Tribune.
Though the spacious McConnell basement’s circular area can fit a large crowd, it has its limits. According to Álvaro Tomassoni, U2 Engineering, the growing popularity of Blues has recently led to overcrowding issues that could explain the introduction of the policy—though he considers it a bit extreme.
“The lineups at Blues have gotten significantly longer than what I’m used to, especially compared to last year [….] I don’t think [Blues] should be closed to other faculties of course, but I think there should be an order of people who can go in first,” Tomassoni said in an interview with The Tribune.
The following day, Blues Pub deleted its initial publication and subsequently posted another announcement apologizing for the policy change, revoking it, and stating that the upcoming Friday night Blues would continue as usual, with no priority for engineers. They also announced the formation of a working group “in order to better hear the engineering community.” While some cheered on student activism, others highlighted how quickly things can escalate on social media. The comments on the initial announcement were filled with students sharing their opinions—both support for the policy and critiques of its consequences were expressed blatantly.
Other student bars on campus took this as an opportunity to promote their own activities. On the same day, Bar des Arts (BdA), 4à7, Detention Den, and MUSA Bar posted a joint statement in a humouristic video intended to “condemn [Blues Pub’s] protectionist policies” and welcome students from all faculties to attend their events.
Though the ban was lifted, the overcrowding issue remains salient. Tomassoni offered a potential solution which would allow Engineering students to take advantage of their priority access while still accommodating students from other faculties—therefore making everybody happy.
“I think a good idea to [prioritize people in Engineering] would be to make it so that from 4 to 6, which is happy hour, […] you can only go in if you’re an engineer and you can have one guest. And then from 6 p.m., it’s open to everyone else,” he suggested.
Looking forward, the creation of a working group will foster discussion about other ways to manage Blues’ crowd, allowing students’ voices to be heard and Blues to remain a welcoming environment for all. As Blues’ second commandment states: “Thou Shalt Bring Engineers and Friendgineers Alike.”
