Closed Campus Club to serve as a social gathering place for all
By: Hilary Parker
While Campus Club was an eating club itself not long ago, as of spring 2008 it will provide an alternative for Princeton University students to the 10 remaining eating clubs that line Prospect Avenue.
"The eating clubs have dances and social gatherings, but a lot of times they are only open to club members," said Amy Campbell, special assistant to Vice President for Campus Life Janet Dickerson, in a written release. "Campus Club will be open to the entire student community, so that students who are members of clubs as well as students who are not members of clubs will be welcome to use the space or reserve it for a meeting, precept or event."
After financial troubles forced the club’s closure in 2005, members donated the building to the university. Following the terms of the donation, "Campus Club will have a dynamic and ongoing role at the center of the university campus, and will continue to enrich the lives of students and alumni for many more years to come," said Anne Trevisan, chair of the club’s graduate board, in a written release.
While the building will usually be open to the entire student body including both undergraduate and graduate students it will be reserved for club members and alumni for certain special events, such as Reunions and Alumni Day.
Three representatives of the private Campus Club and two individuals from the university will comprise an advisory committee to consider the use and renovation of the three-story building. In keeping with club members’ preferences, much of the building’s appearance will remain largely unchanged in future renovations.
Designed by Raleigh Gildersleeve, the architect of the nearby McCosh Hall, the Campus Club building on the corner of Washington Road and Prospect Avenue will be updated to provide a venue for a number of different events including special dinners, performances and other gatherings. Earlier this year, university officials met with students to ascertain how the club might best fit their needs.
"The goal of the space will really be to give students whether they’re independent, in a club, in a college or anything else a place to interact in a very comfortable social setting, and complement the functions that Frist (Campus Center) already serves," said Undergraduate Student Government President Alex Lenahan. "We pictured students using the club as a place to hang out both during the day and the night, and at night especially have the club provide a different sort of social option for students that should help make all students’ social lives richer."

