Night Slice offers free pizza, safe space for UI students seeking alternative options

A safe night out is promised through a recent downtown collaborative effort.  

The Night Slice program at Unimpaired Dry Bar in Iowa City is a crucial initiative that aims to curb sexual assault and accidental injuries, as well as provide alternative nightlife options for students. The local establishment has taken charge of the initiative created by a University of Iowa professor and other organizations aimed at tackling hazards linked to the culture of alcohol consumption and binge drinking often associated with college campuses.

Students were welcome to visit Unimpaired between midnight and 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays in the final six weeks of the spring semester where they could enjoy two free slices of pizza with a student ID. The program promotes a temporary detox as well as sober fun, with plans to evolve into a full-year initiative at the start of the 2023-24 academic year.

Nina Morrison, who is an instructor at the UI's Iowa Young Writers' Studio and a volunteer at the UI's Women's Resource and Action Center, said the program takes place during a time when crime rates are typically higher in Iowa City.

Night Slice hopes to encourage students to take measures to minimize the impact of alcohol consumed earlier in the night, which can help them return home in a more responsible state. Night Slice provides space for students to hang with friends and play games in a social, but sober environment. The pizza is offered to help students recover from a night out in a safe environment before venturing home, Morrison said.

The idea for Night Slice originated from Morrison's early years on campus when several students approached her with concerns about their safety when out drinking.

“I have had many, many young women come to me and tell me that they’ve been sexually assaulted,” Morrison said. “And usually, they’re coming to me because they feel like it’s their fault, because they got too drunk and they let this happen to them. …I had no idea how pervasive this problem was.”

Morrison took action. In her research, she discovered that bystander intervention, which the university advocates for, has little desired effect in deterring perpetrators from committing sex crimes, Morrison said. Instead, she realized a cultural shift was necessary for real change to occur.

That meant creating a space for students to take a break from alcohol consumption and the culture surrounding it while still providing the fun and social experience of bars, Morrison said. After searching for Iowa City establishments to partner with, she settled on Unimpaired.

“They have a mission to create a sober space and it was right in line with their values,” Morrison said of Unimpaired. “It’s a spot where you can hang out in a space that is sober and have the opportunity to socialize and be out on a Friday or Saturday night, but without the pressure of being in a drinking environment.”

She sought out $2,400 from the UI’s Rape Victim Advocacy Program to help subsidize the free pizza while Unimpaired began organizing the pilot program for the final six weeks of the semester.

Morrison created Night Slice flyers and handed them out to help promote the program.

More than 900 free slices of pizza were consumed at Unimpaired during the six-week-long pilot program, General Manager Matthew Earhart said. Night Slice aligns perfectly with Unimpaired’s goals, he said which is why Morrison sought to partner with Night Slice to help extend their reach.

“Really, it’s a positive social atmosphere that’s also a sober atmosphere,” Earhart said. “It just helps provide a safe space for students to go after they’ve been out if they’re drinking.”

Earhart hopes Night Slice's growth along with an expanded budget will lead to additional promotion since most students attended through word-of-mouth.

Morrison mentioned that the UI Division of Student Life has been in contact with Unimpaired and is currently in talks to increase funding and availability for the program. They are considering adding a session on Thursday nights and extending the hours until 3 a.m. Night Slice recently began fundraising on GoFundMe, with a target to raise $10,000.

The program has hopes to expand beyond Iowa City, Morrison said, with Unimpaired planning to reach out to other Big Ten universities.

“I’ve been really surprised and delighted by the energy coming from Unimpaired and also from WRAC and RVAP,” Morrison said. “Everybody really worked hard to support the program.”