New Collegian feature gives specials

Starting Friday, readers will find a new feature within the pages of The Daily Collegian.

As a service to its readers, the Collegian will run listings of drink specials and happy hours of State College bars on Tuesdays and Fridays, said Editor in Chief Megan Donley. The action is in response to Act 199, a recently enforced state law restricting alcohol advertising in college publications, she said.

Act 199, which restricts the advertising of alcoholic beverages in magazines, newspapers, yearbooks, brochures, program books and other publications published by or for educational institutions in Pennsylvania, went into effect February 1997.

However, while direct advertising for alcohol is prohibited, providing listings for specials as a public service is not restricted in Act 199 because bars will not be charged, Donley said.

"Our job is to provide readers with information," she said. "This isn't just to appease advertisers. For me, as the leader of the News Division, it's about providing news of interest to our readers."

The idea was suggested to her by a former editor in chief, Donley added.

To notify bars of the new feature in the newspaper, Donley said she sent a letter to State College bars inviting the establishments to fax or mail notices of drink specials to be included in the listings. For Tuesday publications, bars must submit specials by Sunday and for Friday, they must submit specials by Wednesday.

At least for the time being, Donley said she will be responsible for compiling the listings, which will run with a logo addressing the column to people older than 21. The listings will run on page six on Tuesdays and in the Arts section on Fridays.

"In my opinion, what (the News Division) is doing is providing confidence that could've been lost," said Maria Crespo, advertising manager of the Collegian. "It's not like we're sitting back and doing nothing."

Crespo said a considerable amount of advertising could be lost because bars are restricted from mentioning alcohol in their advertisements. However, bars can still advertise location, food and entertainment in the Collegian.

"There's been a noticeable decline (in bar advertisements) but nothing drastic," Crespo said. "We've only lost one advertiser because of Act 199."

Gerry Hamilton, general manager of the Collegian, said Act 199 violates First Amendment liberties, yet the newspaper has no recourse other than to follow it.

"I have no doubt that Act 199 is a violation of the First Amendment. We are doing our best to obey Act 199 as we understand it, based on how it is being enforced now," Hamilton said. "It would be sheer folly to do otherwise."

Hamilton also said while liquor laws control what bars do, they do not govern news content in publications.