Written by Chaney Skilling
Rasty. Rastalls. Rastall. Known by many name variations, the largest eatery on campus is famous for more than its typical breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Once a block or so, Rastall opens its doors to the late night crowd—welcoming them with donuts, tater-tots, pancakes, and chocolate milk on the side.
Full of free-flowing conversation, Colorado College students come and go as they please. Amongst the plates loaded with guilty-pleasures, friends collide in gleeful hugs, reuniting after being separated earlier in the evening or encouraged to catch up by the pleasant buzz that follows a night of plentiful drinking. For an hour or two, laughter and the occasional song outburst echoes off the walls as students from all walks of campus indulge themselves in unlimited free food and good company.
But there’s more to the story than just drunken escapades and sober observances. One of the most widely attended campus-sponsored events—topping out at approximately 1,300 people during Halloween and Winter Ball—Midnight Rasty has become an integral part of CC culture. Behind the scenes, there is another life that few people know.
Contrary to popular belief, midnight breakfast began not at the request of a student, but rather, a staff member. When CC switched to the food provider Bon Appetite, then-Director Beth Gentry negotiated 12 midnight breakfasts into the contract. Knowing that “high-risk” nights—characterized by excessive drinking and substance experimentation—invite dangerous situations, Gentry wanted to provide CC students with an attractive safe haven. And what could be more attractive than tater-tots and donuts?
“High risk nights such as Halloween and Winterball are nights that we know people are testing boundaries and figuring things out,” said Senior Student Life Specialist Bethany Grubbs.
“Midnight breakfast is our way of trying to keep students safe.”
The world of Midnight Rasty revolves around strategy. Placed throughout the year, Midnight Rasty is held approximately once a block.
On infamous drinking nights, it runs for an extra hour in hopes of attracting more students to food and away from potential dangers. The menu is as purposeful as the timing. On a typically midnight breakfast night, the kitchen staff arrive around 10:30 p.m. and do not close down until 1 or 2 a.m. Behind each counter, numerous chefs scurry here and there, ensuring the containers remain bottomless. Tater-tots, donuts, and pancakes entice students to fill their stomachs, decreasing the likelihood of alcohol poisoning and potential emergency room trips.
At the doors, staff members and additional security guards monitor and watch out for participants that may need help—and in some cases medical attention. This year, students might see some additional familiar faces as the Student and Residential Life office partners with the Athletics office.
“We’ve started a great partnership with the athletic coaches. By working midnight breakfast, they get to experience another side of campus and earn some extra money on the side,” said Grubbs.
However, just because there is supervision doesn’t mean students are subject to consequence. When asked if students could get in trouble for underage drinking or arriving drunk Grubbs replied, “That’s not our philosophy.
The priority is safety. The most common reason for a student to receive any type of consequence is if they are acting out.” Such a philosophy places Midnight Rasty in line with CC’s SafeRide—acknowledging the fact that ensuring students’ safety is more important than enforcing rules and deterring students from seeking help.
Ultimately, Midnight Rasty facilitates an atmosphere unique to CC. It opens its doors to staff and students alike, creating energy that can only be found in the final hours of the day.
The staff engages with the larger student body away from the classroom, athletic fields, and scheduled programming.
Students escape the consistent stress of the block and enjoy what many cite as highlights of college: food and friends. But behind the merriment and laughter there is a greater purpose.
Behind the scenes, CC works to create a welcoming, safe environment in hopes of promoting excessive eating over excessive drinking. Meanwhile, populated by the young, the wild, and the free, Midnight Rasty creates an energy that cannot be matched on campus.