UMW Underground transforms into a 1920’s time capsule

by AVA NJORE

Staff Writer

On March 20, the Office of Student Activities and Engagement turned the Underground at Lee Hall into “Club Eagle,” a speakeasy‑themed escape from the usual campus routine.

The moment students stepped inside, the space felt transformed. Jazz buzzed around, purple and gold accents lined the walls, and clusters of friends drifted between card tables and booths.

With a roaring ‘20s theme, students were immediately pulled into the energetic environment. Feathered headbands, suspenders, pearls and vintage‑inspired outfits filled the room, giving the Underground a playful, time‑capsule quality.

Dim lighting and food sucks you in as you enter. Playing cards and candles are set at every table, as well as appetizers at an open bar serving drinks and snacks. All while a jazz singer performs covers of students’ favorite songs.

To welcome you, a man at the door wearing sunglasses and a formal suit asks for the exclusive “password,” which most students received through a distributed paper invitation.

From the start, Faith Jones, a Night and Weekend Programming Assistant at SAE and event planner for the speakeasy, had imagined an atmosphere that felt different from the usual campus programming. She wanted to give UMW a chance to step out of their routines, try on a new 1920s-themed persona for the night.

“It’s a time for them to dance and have fun,” she said. “And, I think in addition to that, this gives them a chance to dress up in a theme.”

The event’s concept originated from an inspiration sparked by a Class Council event. At the event, Jones says, they had a “mini speakeasy.”

Right away, Jones thought that would be a great event for all students on campus. With the university’s help, she wanted to make it even bigger, taking more inspiration from the “Prohibition era.”

“How can we lean into the Prohibition era and make it really on theme, you know?” said Jones. “So, we just kind of took inspiration from a lot of different places.”

By taking inspiration from the roaring twenties, the Prohibition era, and jazz clubs all over cities, which all gave Jones the perfect aesthetic to match for this event.

However, sticking to the theme’s core did not come without its challenges. Although speakeasies are not traditionally advertised, Jones still wanted students to talk about the event and spread the word to others.

“We tried to be very, I’d say not, secretive with our advertising, because we want everyone to come,” she said. “But obviously speakeasies weren’t advertised right out loud for everyone, so we were trying to be more subtle with it.”

For many students, the speakeasy’s appeal wasn’t just their curiosity about the event’s theme; it was the atmosphere.

“It is giving ‘Sinners’ vibes,” said freshman Aiyanna Richard, referring to the Juke Joint in the 2025 movie “Sinners,” and noting that the dim lighting and underground setting made the space feel different from typical campus gatherings.

While Richard wished more students had shown up, she still found the experience “relaxing” and said she’d come again.

Freshman Robin Howley called the event “a nice change” from what she’d seen from events last semester and said the atmosphere matched her expectations. Similar to Richard, she also anticipated a bigger crowd, especially for a Friday night.

The smaller turnout, however, helped make the space feel more intimate. Without the usual crowding of a weekend event or downtown bar, guests have room to linger at tables and take in the details of the speakeasy setup.

What drew Howley in was the concept’s uniqueness. UMW and the Fredericksburg area don’t offer many nighttime events where students of all ages can mingle, unwind, and actually go out to have fun.

This can lead students to boredom on a Friday night. Especially students who are still under 21 and cannot go out to downtown bars or clubs. Most students want an escape from the everyday rush and chaos of campus, and a Friday night is meant to let your hair down and explore new things and places. Whether that means going out for drinks and dancing or listening to steady music with some appetizers.

Instead of rushing from one activity or bar to the next, students were encouraged to linger, talk, and enjoy the space at their own pace. For Howley, that blend of novelty and comfort is what made the event stand out.

“It seemed fun,” she said. “I like going to these types of events. It caught my interest and looked different than other events like karaoke,” an event also held in the underground.

Due to the Underground’s open layout, the event felt accessible, but also easy to overlook. Without a clear entry point, students walking by may not have noticed it if it weren’t for the music playing from inside.

“I understand why they kept it a secret,” said Howley, “but I think they might’ve needed people talking about it. I didn’t hear much about this.”

She felt that a little more buzz, even if it didn’t reveal every detail, could have helped the event reach more people. Finding that sweet spot where the speakeasy stays true to its hidden password‑only charm while still circulating enough word‑of‑mouth to draw a bigger crowd.

Howley also highlighted some changes she believes would strengthen the event. One being “more non-alcoholic options,” she said.

There were sodas, like Dr. Pepper and Pepsi, but students like Howley and Richards expected more mocktails or mixed drinks without alcohol in them. Whether that’s a dirty soda or sparkling spritzers, the more options make students feel included.

Since they are both freshmen and underage, that option would have elevated the night, making them feel more included within the atmosphere.

Jones feels that the event “went great overall.” The dancing, card games, and 1920s atmosphere tied everything together.

“People who were there were very engaged in the event, so I think they had a good time,” she says.

Each component almost highlighted a need of the night. If you needed to dance, there is a dance floor with a live musician; if you need a drink, there is a bar; if you need to just sit silently, playing cards are there for you to toy with.

“People who were there were very engaged in the event, so I think they had a good time,” she says. The turnout didn’t quite match her expectations, but Jones believes the rain played a role. “I think the turnout was maybe just a little lower because it was raining. Once it starts raining, students don’t want to go out—especially if they’re getting dressed up. They’re like, ‘I don’t want to walk in the rain for that.’”

Still, the students who did attend showed their excitement right away. As the night went on, the energy picked up. Students eventually made their way to the dance floor, which Jones loved to see.

“It’s always hard to get students to start dancing because no one wants to be the first one. But once one person went up, they all started going up,” said Jones.

Because it not only shows participation, but also a sense of community. Students started to hype one another up, and once everyone felt comfortable, the entire sense of the room changed and became uplifting.

She also appreciated how committed students were to the theme. Students and faculty came in dresses and tuxedos. Wild Feather accessories and glasses to show off mystery.

“I really enjoyed how much they leaned into the theme and dressed up. You never know if students will have 1920s outfits in their dorms, but they really committed to the theme and enjoyed it,” she says.

Looking ahead, Jones and SAE hope to bring Club Eagle back and grow its popularity each year.

“I think over time we can just build and grow—we have a good baseline,” she said.

For future events, Jones hopes to add more activities to spark engagement, like a “photo booth, or more little activities for people who aren’t interested in dancing. Really leaning into the 1920s vibe and making it even more authentic.”

Overall, Club Eagle was a refreshing shift from the usual campus events, welcoming anyone looking for late-night laughs with friends or times to unwind alone with music.

The dim lighting, jazz soundtrack, and themed décor created an environment that felt intentionally different, somewhere you could step out of your routine, loosen up, and relax in a little escape.

Whether students arrived dressed in roaring‑20s fashion or showed up in jeans and a t‑shirt, SAE helped bring Jones’ idea to life by creating a comfortable space for UMW, a space that offered something different, something memorable, and something worth doing again.