New pub to open in the Straight in spring 2012

Natalie Raps
Raps

A late-night entertainment venue in Willard Straight Hall's Ivy Room will open in spring 2012, according to the Student Assembly (SA) and the Office of the Dean of Students.

The idea for the venue came from the SA in fall 2010 through its Late Night Programming Report. The report emphasized the need for more late-night recreational space on campus where students of all ages can gather. "Recent changes to the Greek system including greater regulation of fraternity parties has underscored this need," said Vice President for Student and Academic Services Susan Murphy.

The space will be open Wednesday through Saturday nights, with student organizations providing entertainment and Cornell Dining offering food, nonalcoholic beverages, beer and wine.

"The new space will provide an exciting and clublike atmosphere for students of all class years to gather and to enjoy music, live-streamed Cornell sports events and performances organized by a student planning board," said Kent L. Hubbell, the Robert W. and Elizabeth C. Staley Dean of Students.

"This will bring Cornell students together in unprecedented ways," said Student Assembly President Natalie Raps '12. "Students have been excited and interested in this project for a long time. A committee is currently working with the student body to bring needed programming to the space."

The pub does not yet have a name. The committee plans to invite all students to submit names for the space and hopes to provide the winner with a prize, Raps said.

The plan has the backing of the university administration, Hubbell said. "We realize that there are not enough on-campus options for late-night entertainment, and we think this will be a great environment for that. The students and I are also interested in opening up other parts of the Straight for night life so there are even more activities for students."

The launch date will be dependent on obtaining a liquor license from New York state and completing renovations to the Ivy Room, Murphy said. Planning for the renovations will begin immediately, led by staff from Cornell Dining and the Division of Facilities Services in consultation with the student leadership, Hubbell added.

 

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