With the countless mandatory events and expectations of college life, socializing can often feel like a chore. Thankfully, Jana Mathews (PhD), a professor of English here at Rollins College, has created an outlet for students to connect, converse, and enjoy delicious mocktails, without an ounce of obligation.
“Having a space where everyone is there for the same reason, to hang out with low expectations, is a great opportunity to make friends. Or not.” – Jana Mathews
Every Thursday night for the past year, Mathews has hosted Mocktail Nights at her home in Ward Hall (she lives in a freshman dormitory because of her faculty-in-residence position). The idea for these events started back during the pandemic, when it seemed like all of us were on the hunt for a hobby to fill our time. After getting a bit overzealous with her newfound love for baking, Mathews started bringing excess cookies to the college. With students and faculty alike indulging in her creations, Mathews decided to start hosting events every week with her cookies as the main spectacle, with the added bonus of a unique weekly mocktail. Thus, the Mocktail Nights were born.
“You don’t have to perform there. Wear what you want, do what you want, [and] stay as long as you want. No one asks anything of you.” – Jana Mathews
At her first Mocktail Night this semester, a staggering 250 people showed up. Clearly, these events have become something of a phenomenon. The preparation that goes into gearing up for hosting this amount of people is nothing short of remarkable. Amelia Mocsari ‘29, a guest at the most recent Mocktail Night, states, “The amount of work she puts into this is insane.” When I sat down with Mathews and asked about this process, she told me that she and her assistant, Sofia Palmerola ‘28, spend 15-20 hours per week prepping and planning. They bake around 500 cookies for each event–around 75 per day–that are then stored in various freezers on campus (shoutout to the Holmes-like detectives that have stumbled across such treasures). As for the mocktails, every week is completely different and recipes are never reused. From non-alcoholic mojitos and sangria to the most recent apple cider spritz, there is something for everyone.
“There was already a place for people who want to go out on Thursday nights, but what about people who don’t wanna go out? […] Someone like me, who wants to wear their pajamas and it’s not a thing.” – Jana Mathews.
Prepping and planning aside, these nights mean a lot, both for students and Mathews, providing a respite from the deadlines and compulsory functions of college life. Palmerola says, “Everything else is academic. No one wants to show up to events on campus because it’s forced. This is chill.” Mathews adds to this, stating, “We’re not crafting it with the goal of forcing 17 friendships or to have a certain number of people here.” Nothing is expected at these Mocktail Nights–there’s no quota or agenda. It is more of an open invitation, something consistent that students can choose to attend purely to enjoy a little treat and socialize during a hectic week. At the latest Mocktail Night, Jamy Stumbo ‘29 stated that “It feels like an escape from the college world.”
As for what the future of Mocktail Nights entails, Mathews has no plans on stopping. She says, “I hope it persists. It’s really important to have something on the calendar. Something to look forward to.” Mocktail Nights have become a reprieve from deadlines, being told what to do, and going out only to come back more exhausted than you were when you left. It is just you and a plate of homemade treats out on the terrace, surrounded by string lights, plants, and Lorde playing from a speaker (courtesy of Palmerola), that allows students to bond, catch up, and have a place to be free.
“When people say it’s the best part of their week, that they look forward to it, it’s deeply appreciated. It doesn’t feel like work to me.” – Jana Mathews
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