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Idea of univeristy/faculty club examined

Survey

Take the University/Faculty Club Interest Survey.

The Provost's office is seeking input on the possibility of forming a university/faculty club. A survey was distributed to faculty and staff last month to determine what kinds of services would be provided in such a club and how often it might be used.

David Mucci, director of KU Memorial Unions, said the idea of a university/faculty club would be to provide a venue for faculty and staff to gather in an informal setting to discuss research, their work at the university and to establish cross-disciplinary relationships. A club could also provide a place for campus visitors, such as alumni, donors and people of influence to meet with campus personnel.

A club would provide meals, most likely lunch or dinner. Mucci said there would be a membership fee, but those who paid would receive discounted rates on meals and services. Paid memberships would be necessary, as a club would not be supported by the state.

One question facing a potential club is location. The possibility of constructing a facility for such use exists, but would likely be cost prohibitive, Mucci said. Another option is using an existing campus facility, but with it come questions about location – a club would need to be accessible to all of campus as well as the public – and parking.

Mucci said the survey results would be analyzed early next year to gauge interest and expected services before the decision whether or not to pursue a club is made.

If a club is formed, Mucci said the goal is to provide a casual, stress-free setting where university employees could meet.

"It would be a less-formal atmosphere, but where business is clearly being done," Mucci said. "It would also be a place to build bridges to those outside of campus, while serving the sense of creating a better community here."

NOTABLE ALUMS

1982 graduate Cynthia Carroll, an executive at aluminum producer Alcan, is the first woman and non-South African to become chief executive at Anglo American, one of the world's largest independent mining companies. It also owns 45 percent of De Beers Group, the South African diamond mining and trading corporation.