After working on the design plan and the rough cost estimates for the proposed Healy Pub this summer, students in the Georgetown University Student Association’s Healy Space Working Group will be meeting with University President John DeGioia in the coming weeks to discuss a revised vision of the pub. While DeGioia and Vice President of Student Affairs Todd Olson expressed doubt about the viability of the Healy Pub project due to concerns about serving alcohol to students, the working group says that the revised plan should assuage the University’s concerns about the pub.
Colton Malkerson (COL’13), the chair of the GUSA Finance and Appropriations committee, which oversees the Healy Space Working Group, said that he was not surprised by DeGioia and Olson’s comments.
“It demonstrates that he isn’t necessarily [familiar] with the revised proposal,” Malkerson said. “I think it’s clear from the interview that DeGioia and Olson have a conception of the pub as Rhino in the basement of Healy and that’s certainly not what the proposal calls for.”
The revised proposal lifts the emphasis from the “Pub” and puts it back on “Healy.” Malkerson said the primary function of the proposal was to bring students back into the iconic Healy building and to make it a focal point of student life. The building hosts classroom space and administrative space, but the working group said there are not many reasons for students to enter the building otherwise. The proposal would turn a currently unused office space area into a restaurant and study space for students.
Malkerson cited the Tombs and Epicurean as two institutions located near and on campus, respectively, that serve alcohol and limit the consumption of alcohol to students who are 21 years or older. He says the University’s main concern is the kind of atmosphere the pub would create in the Dalgren area and Healy Hall.
“Again, it’s not Rhino, it’s not Thirds. It’s not going to be a crazy ruckus,” Malkerson said.
The Healy Pub Working Group worked on rough sketches for the pub over the summer. They envision the space to be a “dimly-lit, wooden setting” lined with couches and decorated with University archival materials. The pub would also have a private room that can be reserved by any student or faculty member, as well as a separate lounge for quiet study and a raised platform for performances.
The working group has also determined that the financial feasibility of the project is sound with $3.23 million already allocated to the Healy Pub project from the Student Activities Fee Endowment Reform. The group estimates that the total cost for the pub, including construction and licensing fees, would be somewhere between $1,276,800 and $1,344,00.
“We [have the money to] completely remodel the space, move the offices, and set up the infrastructure,” Malkerson said. “Essentially the only thing that is missing is the green light from the University administration, and that’s certainly key to the proposal.”
Although the University has expressed doubts about the feasibility of Healy Pub, an update submitted by the working group said the University has “agreed to respect the process and hear a full presentation of the proposal on its merits.” The meeting may take place as early as two weeks from now.
The GUSA FinApp Committee has also made progress on implementing a solar panel system on 43 University owned townhouses, and will be holding a referendum on the solar panel project in the fall.
“It’s a wonderful proposal, and students will see the immediate effect. I think that while there is a lot of focus on Healy Pub, students shouldn’t lose sight of other projects,” Malkerson said.
If the Healy Pub Proposal does not pass, the allocated funds would go to the Georgetown University Social Innovation & Public Service Fund and the New South Student Center.
