Jackson Loomis, Special to The Denisonian

With no heat, running water, or restrooms in The Cave, student manager Jeffrey Pettigrew was determined to find a new venue; one that maintains the same home grown atmosphere. 

Denison’s first-ever student-run facility opened in the Colwell House, spring of 1968. They named it the Bandersnatch after the Jabberwocky Poem written by Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice and Wonderland. 

Almost 60 years ago, on May 5, Pettigrew brought the folk music legends John Denver, Michael Johnson, David Boise and Paul Prestopino to play for the grand opening. They performed until 2:30 in the morning. The Bandsersnatch sold 125 tickets for $2.50 each. 

Today, students enjoy music during Open Mic Nights, join improv groups, eat snagels, and interact with their peers in this lasting institution. With an ever-changing student body within an ever-changing campus, the operators of the Bandersnatch have had to be resourceful. This idea has persisted for decades and has kept the Bandersnatch running for so long. 

Just recently, the Bandersnatch morphed into something different. Tyler Thompson ‘27 has been on staff since his freshman year. It wasn’t until last year that they started to turn a profit. 

When Thompson started, the struggles were more pronounced. 

“There was a lack of communication across the board with all employees,” he said. “Now I feel like we know each other more than we did previously.”

After making deliberate changes, they are now making upward of $4,000 in revenue after years of struggling to break even. Open every night with consistent hours and the presence of the entire freshman class surely has its advantages. But one of the biggest reasons for their financial gain is the support they have had from CLIC and the Center for Consulting and Entrepreneurship, formally known as The Red Frame Lab. 

“We had to reinvent our business model,” Thompson said. 

Having support from external entities, like CLIC, Denison’s Community Leadership and Involvement Center, proved to have benefits. The students at the Bandersnatch utilized CLIC’s campus resources to implement their goals. 

Clark Tieman, CLIC’s associate director, is recognized as the primary faculty supervisor for the Bandersnatch. He helps provide the resources that Denison has to offer while respecting the organization’s student-run nature. 

“I use the Bandersnatch as the perfect example of what it looks like to be student-run and student operated while also not shying away from the opportunities and resources that are available to them,” Tieman said. “Continued success comes from good partnerships.” 

Another turning point was a discussion that took place with the Center for Consulting and Entrepreneurship (CCE), who dove into the business side of the Bandersnatch. The Bandersnatch staff shared with CCE their goals and practices to see where they intersect, and where they diverge. 

“It highlighted a bunch of weak points the Bandersnatch had and how we can remedy them,” said Jackson Scott Luib ‘29, financial manager of the Bandersnatch. 

He and Thompson emphasized the impact that this consultation had. There is a consensus that the operation is far more efficient now. 

“It really feels like the people want to work and have fun working,” Luib said. 

The culture is a large contributor to the evolution of the Bandersnatch. In previous years, they often had to close down because of staffing issues. There was more of a struggle to fill shifts and be on the same page. The team has had to adjust to a changing student environment over the years it has been in business. 

“What makes this more of a student space is that it acts like a student,” Thompson said. “It messes up, it forgets things, and it is always changing.” 

The students maintain the charm of the Bandersnatch. The names and colors that fill the walls reflect the decades of attention put into it. Years of student contributions will continue to make the Bandersnatch a campus favorite.