The hot issue of this week’s A.S Council meeting was the Grove Caffe, which is in danger of being closed down due to financial deficits. Supporters of the Grove packed Price Center Ballroom and made their opinions known during both public input and a lengthy council caucus.
There was some confusion as to whether the Grove would be replaced by a student store selling Triton apparel – a rumor that was later vehemently dispelled by Assistant Vice President of Enterprise Operations Sydney Goldberg.
Grove proponents made impassioned statements during public input, with employee and Eleanor Roosevelt College sophomore Justin Gutierrez asking the council what the Grove had done to deserve allegedly shoddy treatment by the council.
“”Shutting down the beloved Grove Caffe would make imminent the end of social life on an already dead campus,”” he said.
The main trouble seemed to be related to finances – the Grove has reported a deficit of $23,000 so far this year. The council discussed possible options to prevent the Grove from closing during council caucus, including raising awareness about its plight, hiring a full-time nonstudent manager or leasing out the space to other businesses.
This was followed by a heated and drawn-out evaluation of each option, with numerous motions to extend the allotted time. Finally, a motion passed that allowed everyone on the speaker list from both the council and the public to have their say.
When Assistant Vice President of Diversity Affairs Marco Murillo finally took a vote on the three options, most of the public and council opted for the first choice. The crossfire then dwindled, prompting A.S. President Harry Khanna to propose a recess.
During the special presentation segment, University Events Office Director Martin Wollesen unveiled an early draft of the “”Loft Downtown,”” a proposed nightclub to accompany the Price Center extension. The venue will feature a restaurant, tapas bar, performance stage and even cabaret. Wollesen seemed reluctant to address the topic of alcohol in the bar.
“”There are all kinds of bars,”” he joked. “”Chocolate bars … “”
He assured the council that the possibility of alcohol would not be ruled out, but he wanted the emphasis to be on “”eclectic programming.”” Wollesen said the late-night venue would provide programming lasting until 1 or 2 a.m. The yearly expenses are estimated to total at around $260,000.
The loft – which is a name for the space, not the nightclub – is slated to open in January 2008.
Vice President of Finance and Resources Conrad Ohashi announced that, contrary to the initial figure of $44,000 in General Unallocated funds, there was only around $32,000. He explained that this year’s council started with only $83,000 compared to the usual allotment of $100,000.
“”We’re kind of screwed,”” he told the council. “”We might have to go into deficit spending.””
His last comment drew cheers from some senators. The exhaustive meeting drew to a close with a councilwide serenade to A.S. adviser Lauren Weiner in recognition of her birthday.
