Most Influential Place at UM
- Brooke Freeland
- Apr 18, 2023
- 3 min read
The Rathskeller is one of the most influential parts of the University of Miami.
It has been around since 1972. It was originally called the Charles A. Gauthier Hall “Rathskeller.” It was named after a man who was on the Board of Trustees’. It is a student run restaurant “dedicated to developing students, providing quality food, unique events, and an accepting on-campus space while advancing the University’s mission and goals”.
Picture: The Rat on Twitter
They have been known for many years to be the hot spot for university students. It is by far one of the most well-known parts of the University both to students and professors.
Their missions are something that the Rat employees really live by. They are:
· “Provides a new, different, and complementary site for student extracurricular life. A relaxed, easy atmosphere characterizes the Rathskeller, which is conducive to wholesome enjoyment.”
· “Creates the conditions for improved communications among the various elements of the University community—the students, administrators, staff, alumni, faculty and Board of Trustee members of the University of Miami.”
· “Contributes positively to the total educational experience of the students of the University by providing a facility, program and atmosphere that encourages the free exchange and exploration of ideas.”
· “Provides a site for the legal consumption of beer and wine on campus for those legally entitled for consumption. A natural concomitant of this location is a reduction in the risks associated with traveling by automobile to other sites in the greater Miami area for the purpose of consuming alcoholic beverages.”
· “Enables students to participate responsibly in a different area of student relevance and competence by establishing a Rathskeller which will ultimately be financed by students, designed with the help of students and operated largely by the students for the University community.”
The employees and students make these missions come alive every day. They consistently emphasize the relaxed atmosphere with the couches in the corner and the gliders all around and have created a fun place for students to drink, talk, and learn.
Picture: The Miami Hurricane, 2017
While it is definitely one of the most influential places, it can seem a bit intimidating. Just know that every UM student went through the stress. There is always people there whether it's to watch a game or an event going on or just to sit there with friends. But, it is always welcoming and there are always fun things to do.
Game day's are one of the most popular day's at the Rat. Many many
students get together to celebrate and cheer. It truly shows that it's great to be a Miami Hurricane. But let's not forget about the amazing food! From salads to french fries, the Rat has something for everyone. You can order online or at the counter and they will call your number out on the PA system.
Personally, the Rat is one of the most important parts of my college career. For the past 4 years, I have been able to sit on one of the gliders for hours and study with my friends, work on projects, whatever is needed for school. It has one of the most beautiful views of Lake Osceola and is a great way to see the sunset with your friends. They also have very fun events which helped me become much closer to my friends. From Trivia Tuesday to DJ Fridays, they have a ton of fun events that students can go to.
For example, my freshman year, me and all of my friends went down to the Rat for Trivia Tuesday. While we didn’t win, we did have one of the most fun nights I have ever had on campus.
Picture: Brooke Freeland
It helped us grow and become even more of a family. Ever since, I have been going with my friends to Trivia Tuesdays as much as possible to go back to that time.
It truly is one of the best places to just grab a pitcher of beer and sit with friends. So, if you’re a student at the University of Miami or are just visiting the school, we would definitely recommend that you come down to the Rat, see what’s going on, and just vibe with everyone around! It really is...influential.
Visit their website to get updates on events and reservations...
Comments