By Nick Thompson (Whetstone Staff Writer)

As recently as last semester, an observer might have found on Thursday nights a large group of students dressed in club  attire lined up to get  on a yellow school bus that would have taken them to Bubba’s Rock Shack.

Back then, Bubba’s was the nightlife hot spot for Wesley College students, which provided transportation to and from the  bar.

Buses used to run every half hour, starting at 10 p.m., to pick students up at the corner of Fulton Avenue and North Bradford  Street.

Charlie Lyon, the owner of Bubba’s, said the buses are no longer provided because the number of people who rode the bus  was dwindling.

“From what I hear, the kids didn’t want to use the buses anymore,” Lyon said. “We’ll gladly supply buses again if we find out  that there is a demand for it, because the last thing I want is for people to leave here and get into accidents.”

 

Senior Mia Brocco, has worked several Thursday nights at Bubba’s as a shot girl and said the clientele has changed recently.

“On Thursdays there are Dover locals that come in more so than students now,” she said. “Everybody went to Bubba’s when I was a freshman.”

Senior Nick Hancock agrees.

“When I was a freshman, Bubba’s was to us what the LEX is to the lowerclassmen now,” he said. “Bubba’s was always a lot of fun and the buses being right there by the dorms made it really convenient.”

Hancock said he thought one of the possible reasons Bubba’s lost its popularity among students is that the LEX is within walking distance, while Bubba’s, located on Route 13, is not.

Junior Marcus Johnson agrees.

“If you drive there, you’re just asking to get pulled over and get a DWI from the police that sit in the parking lot looking for people like you and I,” he said.

Director of Safety and Security, Walt Beaupre said that the Bubba’s bus had been running for the five-plus years that he has been at Wesley.

“I think it was good that it kept the students off the roads,” he said. “However it’s also encouraging them to go there and get intoxicated.”

Dean of students Mary-Alice Ozechoski echoed Beaupre’s sentiments.

“We know minors are going there and getting served,” she said. “If you’re 21, ride the bus and be safe; if you’re underage, you’re rolling the dice.”

“As I got older I kind of grew out of the loud dance club atmosphere and I prefer the sit down bar now, but I will always have good memories of Thursdays at Bubba’s,” Hancock said.