Club membership approves donation to University

Campus Club alumni and former undergraduate members have passed a resolution to donate the clubhouse to the University for student and alumni "social and cultural functions," club graduate board member Stephen Culhane '86 said Monday evening.

The resolution passed overwhelmingly by a vote of 647 to 18, club graduate board chair Anne Trevisan '86 said, noting that the decision was "bittersweet" but "fairly clear-cut."

"I think there were a number of views expressed [among the voters] and there were some reservations among some of the people who voted in favor," Culhane said, "but in terms of the people who voted against, I think the principal issue [was] a desire not to see the club close, which frankly I think everybody shares."

The University is awaiting official notice of the donation from Campus' graduate board before making specific plans for the building.

"If the resolution did pass, then we would need to work with the Club to complete the legal process necessary to donate the Club to the University," Vice President and Secretary Robert Durkee '69 said in an email. He added that planning for the club's future would include students.

Culhane said Campus' graduate board "negotiated" the donation outline with the University prior to submitting it to its general membership. "We do not expect there will be major changes," Culhane said, noting, however, that no formal submission has been made to Nassau Hall.

The resolution comes three months after Campus' August announcement that it would close its doors for the fall.

"Students might have access to [the club] for some events as early as next semester, but it's unclear how often or permanent that'll be at this point," USG president Leslie-Bernard Joseph '06 said. Culhane also noted that he would like to see the club open and available to the campus community as soon as next semester.

"Campus Club has a distinguished history dating back more than a century, during which it has helped shape the nature of campus life," President Tilghman said in an Oct. 12 email to the club's alumni board leaders. "Looking forward, it is exciting to imagine the distinctive role it could play in shaping campus life for many years."

Tilghman said she envisions a place for all students to have fun and relax, while sharing "a broad range of social, academic, extracurricular and cultural experiences."

The alumni resolution states that the club's "best and highest use is and should remain social functions and other activities relating to the academic and extracurricular activities." These activities could include alumni events, musical and cultural events, student extracurricular meeting spaces, and precept rooms.

The agreement also guarantees club members continued access to the building and parking lot for at least the next 20 years, especially during Reunions, alumni weekend and Homecoming.

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The building's structure will be preserved, with the exception of complying with building codes and the possibility of converting the third floor to office space.

In addition, the University will transfer $75,000 to the club to finance activities for Campus alumni, including newsletters, receptions and other club activities.

Some former Campus members are excited about the prospect of the building's reopening as a broad social venue.

"I think [the donation] is an excellent thing," Matt Samberg '06, a former Campus officer, said. "What the University needs more of are regular, weekly social events ... Campus could be an ideal space for such events."

He noted that many events sponsored by the University often have an administrative, imposed feel, but hopes that Campus can maintain its "eating-club feel" while gaining University backing and funding.

Samberg added, however, that many students are "not big fans of the eating club environment, the wild, drinking party scene ... They'd prefer a more alcohol-free or less-drunken environment."

Last Thursday, Samberg and about 20 students dined with trustees and Vice President for Campus Life Janet Dickerson in Prospect House to discuss "social alienation in Princeton social life."

The major issues discussed were the lack of social venues available besides the eating clubs and the price difference between University meal plans and the clubs.

Joseph said he would like to see the new "burrito venture" housed in Campus. "But more than anything, we want to ensure that it's a space that every student can feel comfortable in," he said.

— Includes reporting and writing by Princetonian Senior Writer Chanakya Sethi.