RENOVATION OF CHUMS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The prepared petition was prepared, because the Chums staff is very committed to providing an enjoyable and operable venue for students to hang out, eat food, drink milkshakes, and to enjoy coffeehouses. The Chums staff has had bi-monthly meetings all semester to figure out possible ways to update within our costs. We have made quite a bit of progress this semester, despite some financial setbacks, but have a long way to go.

Our overall goal is to show our highest commitment to the student body by providing an environment that reflects that. This overhaul of the aesthetics of Chums and, most importantly, the functionality of Chums is profoundly important. Because it is a gathering place for students to hang out with friends, perform, and to enjoy during their years at Brandeis, we must provide them with the best service and environment possible.

There has been a distinct increase in the amount of performances hosted by student clubs at Chums. Each weekday night has been booked with coffeehouses and the weekends with student concerts/performances or outside concerts. On average, about 95% of our opening nights are booked with performances or coffeehouses by student-run organizations and clubs from campus. This increase in events directly implies an urgent need to update the facilities to keep up with the demand and desires of the student body. We are not university sponsored, so we have tried to achieve our goals within what we’ve earned in profits. We wish to continue the trend of having more students use and enjoy Chums, but because of the way it is deteriorating, it may not continue. We do not wish to turn away any Brandeis student or community member from Chums. As Chums is student run, the employees are very connected and committed to the student body, which is why we are hoping to be granted the means we need to achieve our goal to continue serving the student body in the best way possible.

1. Why do you thin your proposal will benefit the student body at large?
I believe the proposal will benefit the student body, because the funding will provide the necessary means for updates and renovations to occur for Chums. These renovations will impact the student body directly, by allowing Chums to provide a cleaner, more efficient, and overall more enjoyable venue for students to perform and to hang out.

2. Why and how do you think your proposal will benefit in short and long term?
In the short term, students currently at Brandeis will be able to enjoy a cleaner and more operable Chums venue. The necessary changes for Chums are outside of our operable budget. We want to provide a cleaner and more enjoyable environment for students to enjoy performances and coffeehouses. Also, we want to allow students to have a clean, workable environment to come hang out and study. We want to expand what we can do for the student body, but we cannot achieve this goal alone, as we need the resources to handle the large groups of students that frequent Chums each night. We believe that every student has the right to enjoy Chums and we feel that our lack of funding for these needed projects causes us to be unable to fully serve the student body. Chums is a very central part of the Brandeis experience for many students currently at Brandeis and with the help of special funding, we hope to provide the best Chums experience we possible can.

As much as Chums is a part of a current student’s memories, we also realize that Chums is a campus landmark to alumni, parents of students, and other Brandeis community members. The goal of these projects have the long term hope that Chums will forever be maintained and preserved, so past students and community members can come back and enjoy it in future years. The renovations we propose are not to change Chums, but rather update and preserve it, so it can be enjoyed in the present and in the future.

3. Whom have you consulted for the proposal?
- Sarah Richardson, Activities Advisor, Department of Student Activities, Brandeis University (slrichar@brandeis.edu)
-Home Depot Website
-Guitar Center Website
-IKEA Website

4. Please list any peoplep we can contact as references in regards to your proposal.
- Sarah Richardson, Activities Advisor, Department of Student Activities, Brandeis University (slrichar@brandeis.edu)

5. Any further explanations if necessary.
This semester we have tried to update Chums within our own operating budget. We took the initiative to clean and paint the walls, following December break. We’ve also updated the electrical wiring, with help by Brandeis facilities services, to provide safer access to more outlets near the stage for performances. The wiring also allowed us to have light switches at both exits, which was a safety hazard for workers.

ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENTS
- Price Breakdown

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