Post by elon_phan on Feb 15, 2008 21:09:36 GMT -5
Landmark purchase: Elon ponders uses for Lighthouse tavern
By Mike Wilder / Times-News
2008-02-15 16:33:00
ELON — Elon University is exploring ways to use a building that for decades has been a popular hangout for students.
The university bought the Lighthouse Tavern and Deli, located near campus on West College Avenue, in January. The previous owner, Chad Snyder, was arrested late last year on charges including sale and delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, and attempting to purchase GHB,a recreational drug.
The purchase price was $625,000, according to Alamance County Register of Deeds records.
Dan Anderson, an assistant vice president and director of university relations, said Elon is asking for students’ opinions in deciding how to use the building.
Anderson said there is a “high demand for a place close to campus” where students can hear bands and hold social events for fraternities, sororities and other student groups.
At least some of the options the university is considering would allow alcohol to continue to be served, though Anderson said a university-owned facility would have more safeguards in place.
If Elon decides alcohol can be served there, the school’s policies on preventing underage drinking and excessive drinking by students who are 21 and older would come into play.
“It it’s determined that alcohol will be served there, it’s going to have to meet with all of our risk-management guidelines,” he said. “It’s certainly an advantage to have the university be in a position that (it) can oversee that.”
Among unresolved questions, Anderson said, are whether the building would be open only for
events such as band performances and parties, or whether it would serve as a hangout with regular hours each week. He said a coffeehouse-style environment has been mentioned in addition to the possibility of alcohol being served.
While no decision has been made, Anderson said, “most of the talk has been about this being an Elon-only facility” rather than one that is open to people who aren’t part of the campus community.
Anderson said there’s a lot of work to be done on the building before it is used again. He added, though, that he’s hearing students don’t want the university to renovate the building in a way that dramatically changes its character.
“They don’t want to have many changes,” said Rob Saunders, who is president of Elon’s Student Government Association, in terms of how the building is laid out with a bar area, pool tables and stage.
He said most students he’s heard from want alcohol to continue to be served at the Lighthouse. From what he’s heard, Saunders said, the coffeehuse idea is less popular, perhaps because the Acorn Coffee Shop is nearby.
Ryan Sweeney, program director at campus radio station WSOE, said students are interested in more live music, including bigger-name bands. He thinks a college-owned building could help promote that.
John Bateman, who is vice president of Elon’s Student Government Association, said some students have mentioned safety concerns such as fights at the Lighthouse and are hopeful a campus-owned facility would be more likely to avoid those problems.
Saunders and Bateman agreed with Anderson’s assessment that the university is working to get a lot of input from students, including holding forums to find out what they would like to see happen to the Lighthouse.
Besides its appeal to current students, Anderson said, many alumni fondly remember the Lighthouse: “It has a long history of Elon students going there.”
David Hibbard, a 1989 Elon graduate who is now director of communications for the university’s law school in Greensboro, said the Lighthouse was “the kind of place where you could go to hang out, listen to a band, (and) have a beer.”
By Mike Wilder / Times-News
2008-02-15 16:33:00
ELON — Elon University is exploring ways to use a building that for decades has been a popular hangout for students.
The university bought the Lighthouse Tavern and Deli, located near campus on West College Avenue, in January. The previous owner, Chad Snyder, was arrested late last year on charges including sale and delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, and attempting to purchase GHB,a recreational drug.
The purchase price was $625,000, according to Alamance County Register of Deeds records.
Dan Anderson, an assistant vice president and director of university relations, said Elon is asking for students’ opinions in deciding how to use the building.
Anderson said there is a “high demand for a place close to campus” where students can hear bands and hold social events for fraternities, sororities and other student groups.
At least some of the options the university is considering would allow alcohol to continue to be served, though Anderson said a university-owned facility would have more safeguards in place.
If Elon decides alcohol can be served there, the school’s policies on preventing underage drinking and excessive drinking by students who are 21 and older would come into play.
“It it’s determined that alcohol will be served there, it’s going to have to meet with all of our risk-management guidelines,” he said. “It’s certainly an advantage to have the university be in a position that (it) can oversee that.”
Among unresolved questions, Anderson said, are whether the building would be open only for
events such as band performances and parties, or whether it would serve as a hangout with regular hours each week. He said a coffeehouse-style environment has been mentioned in addition to the possibility of alcohol being served.
While no decision has been made, Anderson said, “most of the talk has been about this being an Elon-only facility” rather than one that is open to people who aren’t part of the campus community.
Anderson said there’s a lot of work to be done on the building before it is used again. He added, though, that he’s hearing students don’t want the university to renovate the building in a way that dramatically changes its character.
“They don’t want to have many changes,” said Rob Saunders, who is president of Elon’s Student Government Association, in terms of how the building is laid out with a bar area, pool tables and stage.
He said most students he’s heard from want alcohol to continue to be served at the Lighthouse. From what he’s heard, Saunders said, the coffeehuse idea is less popular, perhaps because the Acorn Coffee Shop is nearby.
Ryan Sweeney, program director at campus radio station WSOE, said students are interested in more live music, including bigger-name bands. He thinks a college-owned building could help promote that.
John Bateman, who is vice president of Elon’s Student Government Association, said some students have mentioned safety concerns such as fights at the Lighthouse and are hopeful a campus-owned facility would be more likely to avoid those problems.
Saunders and Bateman agreed with Anderson’s assessment that the university is working to get a lot of input from students, including holding forums to find out what they would like to see happen to the Lighthouse.
Besides its appeal to current students, Anderson said, many alumni fondly remember the Lighthouse: “It has a long history of Elon students going there.”
David Hibbard, a 1989 Elon graduate who is now director of communications for the university’s law school in Greensboro, said the Lighthouse was “the kind of place where you could go to hang out, listen to a band, (and) have a beer.”