A.D. Club To Shut Down Temporarily

Roughly three months after the A.D. final club's graduate board lead a movement to close the club's doors to guests, last week they announced that the club will be shut down entirely, closed even to undergraduate members.

The closing will be temporary--ostensibly it will allow for the club to be readied for its 100th anniversary next fall--but it may be a sign of growing tensions between undergraduate and graduate members.

"We're taking a hiatus of use of the A.D. facilities for a number of reasons," A.D. undergraduate President John H. "Jake" Heller '99 said.

Kenneth H. Ahn '00, who will serve as A.D. treasurer next year, said members were notified early Saturday morning that they were not to enter the club.

"It's shut down for all members until the graduate board gives us further notice," Ahn said. "The grad board decided it would be in the best interest of the club."

Steven W. Ranere '00, who will serve as club president next year, said the graduate board had meeting last Thursday where they voted unanimously to close the club.

Heller said there was no specific incident or problem that spurred the club's closing. "We're in the process of renovations in a variety of aspects of the club," Heller added.

Irresponsible behavior on the part of club members as well as the club's upcoming anniversary celebration influenced graduates' decisions, Ranere said.

"There will be a total revamping of the inner structure to get it ready [for the anniversary], and we haven't exactly been keeping the place clean," he said.

Recent undergraduate behavior has resulted in "minor damages" to the club building, and graduates who have been raising money for the renovations did not wish to see the building defaced further.

Leaving the club empty for the next few months while the renovation occurs is the best idea to ensure its readiness for the anniversary, Ranere said.

"It lets us think about what we want to havethe club for," Ranere said. "They wanted to let ustake a breath."

A.D. graduate President Patrick Grant Jr. '70declined to comment on the issue.

"It's a personal issue within the club," Grantsaid. "We've got some internal issues we'redealing with."

The A.D. has been dealing with its new guestpolicy over the last few months.

Jan. 20, the club became the first of manyfinal clubs to change guest policies thissemester, restricting access to non-members.

In light of concerns about liability, thegraduate board decided to limit club access toguests to a handful of annual events and specialparties.

Ranere said the undergraduate members have hadsome problems adjusting to the new rules.

President of the Inter-Club Council Rev.Douglas W. Sears '69, said he had not yet receivedword of the change, but said it is fitting.

"The A.D. used to be the stuffiest place, nextto the Porcellian," Sears said. "You could getfined $75 for sticking your head out of thewindow."

Sears said the last club to have made acomparable decision to shut out members was in1995 when the D.U. club closed because of aviolent incident involving a football recruit.

The D.U. club later closed permanently and wasabsorbed into the Fly club

"It lets us think about what we want to havethe club for," Ranere said. "They wanted to let ustake a breath."

A.D. graduate President Patrick Grant Jr. '70declined to comment on the issue.

"It's a personal issue within the club," Grantsaid. "We've got some internal issues we'redealing with."

The A.D. has been dealing with its new guestpolicy over the last few months.

Jan. 20, the club became the first of manyfinal clubs to change guest policies thissemester, restricting access to non-members.

In light of concerns about liability, thegraduate board decided to limit club access toguests to a handful of annual events and specialparties.

Ranere said the undergraduate members have hadsome problems adjusting to the new rules.

President of the Inter-Club Council Rev.Douglas W. Sears '69, said he had not yet receivedword of the change, but said it is fitting.

"The A.D. used to be the stuffiest place, nextto the Porcellian," Sears said. "You could getfined $75 for sticking your head out of thewindow."

Sears said the last club to have made acomparable decision to shut out members was in1995 when the D.U. club closed because of aviolent incident involving a football recruit.

The D.U. club later closed permanently and wasabsorbed into the Fly club