Why do students go to Marty’s? Prior to February 16, the answer would have been for burritos or mac and cheese bites. Now, as a result of Dante’s Disko — an event organized and sponsored by KWLC — students have the opportunity to go to Marty’s to dance.
From 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on February 16, the doors of Marty’s opened for the first Dante’s Disko. Students packed the dance floor for the disco-themed event and danced to the music provided by Willem Hawley-Bourcier (‘24) under the stage name of DJ Willy. According to General Station Manager of KWLC Asher Smith (‘22), the Disko was the first in a series of events and changes intended to bring Marty’s back up to its pre-pandemic activity levels.
Feeling the impact of Roscoe’s closure last spring, the only dancing venue within a mile of Luther, students expressed frustration with the lack of accessible nightlife on and around campus. Thus, the idea for Dante’s Disko was born through a mutual partnership between KWLC and the Student Activities Council (SAC). Smith acknowledged how Dante’s Disko is meant to fill this gap in the college experience of Luther students.
“Knowing there were DJs on campus, we thought it would be a good idea to organize an event where students would be able to have fun and let loose in ways they have been unable to for a few years now, or at least since Roscoe’s shut down,” Smith said. “[These] events are important to help provide students with a ‘real’ college experience, one that has room for not only academics and extracurriculars, but also a thriving social life and rewarding social experiences. It just made sense to provide that sort of environment in Marty’s and use the space to its full potential.”
Hawley-Bourcier credits Nischal Bhandari (‘25) with connecting him to Smith and Assistant Director of Student Activities Olivia Helland (‘21), who were the main organizing forces behind Dante’s Disko. Hawley-Bourcier curated a set prior to the event that featured music from the Bee Gees, Earth, Wind & Fire and Dawn of Summer. Regardless of music taste, the students in attendance were willing to dance, which Hawley-Bourcier was appreciative of.
“[It was] really, really positive and welcoming,” Hawley-Bourcier said.”As people started to trickle in, I became aware that they felt comfortable enough to dance a little bit and to move even if it wasn’t their type of music. I really appreciated the first few people who came out around 9:45, and they started doing the Macarena.”
Students in attendance like Quinn Zeleny (‘24) also appreciated the opportunity to use Marty’s as a social space. Zeleny used Dante’s Disko as a date night opportunity, noting the inconvenience of Decorah’s nightlife as a reason to normally stay in.
“I actually genuinely enjoyed [Dante’s Disko],” Zeleny said. “Part of the reason I don’t like going out anymore is that I don’t like having to figure out a designated driver. I don’t like having to figure out an outfit for if I have to walk a while if I can’t find a [driver]. I would rather just not go out, but now I actually get to go out and dance and stuff.”
Dante’s was originally a student hangout spot in the Dahl Centennial Union that predated Marty’s. Smith heard stories from alum who would spend time there about how lively of an environment it was and wanted to incorporate that bit of Luther’s history into the effort to revitalize Marty’s. Even in their last seven years on and around the Luther campus, Smith has noticed a change in the environment and energy.
“When I was a freshman at Luther back in 2018-2019, there were events going on at Marty’s just about every weekend that had a large turnout and allowed students a space to have fun, listen to music [and] play games,” Smith said. “Then the pandemic hit, and those types of events seemed to go away for a while, as well as accessibility to Roscoe’s.”
KWLC and SAC aren’t alone in their revitalization efforts. On February 8, Student Senate passed a motion proposed by SAC President Quinn Lohse (‘25) to create a Marty’s renovation ad hoc committee. Committee member and Sophomore Class Representative Malachi McElroy (‘26) could be seen in the Union tabling for the committee on Tuesday, February 20 during Shadow Block. He pointed to what he saw as the function for Student Senate in the revitalization process.
“Student Senate can bridge the gap between student ideas and actually putting the ideas into place,” McElroy said.
Moving forward, the KWLC-sponsored Dante’s Disko will be a regular bi-weekly event held in Marty’s. The next Disko is planned for Friday, March 2. The theme has yet to be announced.
