Booze battle

I love a good local controversy. It always brings out enough material to keep any comic busy for a long period of time. The recent dispute regarding the fate of the historic Von Lee Theatre has lived up to that reputation. In one corner is a nostalgic local resident trying to preserve a movie theater he enjoyed attending during his youth. Supporting him in his quixotic quest is a group of IU administrators led by IU Director of Real Estate and Economic Development Lynn Coyne. In the opposite corner is a group of investors that has purchased the property and hopes to convert it into a restaurant and bar. \nChris Sturbaum is the organizer of the "Save the Von Lee" committee. His group is already in the process of suing Kerasotes Theatres, the previous owners of the facility, on anti-trust grounds. Kerasotes sold the theater several years ago under the condition that it would not show movies. Sturbaum believes this makes the company a monopoly. Not surprisingly, Sturbaum is vehemently opposed to the theater being converted into a bar. \nSturbaum's basic arguments against the conversion of the theater into a bar are multiple and conflicting. He has argued in the press that the conversion will add to IU's "Party School" image. Further, it will compete with other Kirkwood Avenue bars and restaurants and hurt their businesses. So, this hypocrite is suing Kerasotes on anti-trust grounds, yet is opposed to a new bar because it will create competition for other businesses. \nCoyne has led the University's objection to the proposed conversion. In the Dec. 4 edition of the IDS, Coyne said, "As policy matter we do not need an additional outlet contributing to the consumption of alcohol beverages … the location is inappropriate because it is the symbolic entry to the campus at the Sample Gates." \nSturbaum has also publicly supported these complaints. That being said, both Coyne and Sturbaum need to exit the fantasy world they live in and face reality. I can picture it now: a group of students is trying to figure out what to do on a Saturday evening, when one proposes the need to start drinking and take advantage of the new bar on Kirkwood. As if Nick's, Kilroy's, Upstairs, Festers, Jungle Room, Irish Lion, Crazy Horse, Bear's, Scotty's, Bluebird and Sports had not already attracted these students! The location argument is nearly as absurd. Kilroy's is within 50 feet of the theater; Nick's, Upstairs, Festers and Jungle Room are maybe 100 feet away.\nFinally, much has been made about the need to preserve the Von Lee for its historical significance. Sturbaum recalled for the Dec. 11 IDS that he used to attend the theater as a child and a good memory was "going to see a Woody Allen film and in the theater seats there were a broad cross section of the community sharing a good movie." \n While I can relate to nostalgic stories of yesteryear and enjoy listening to my father tell me about walking up a hill both ways to school, I am nonetheless compelled to ask Mr. Sturbaum if he thinks the same will hold true if the theater is reopened. Let's face facts, there is no parking nearby unless you have an A or C pass, and stadium seating is much better for watching movies because you can put your arm around your date and not get the armrest jammed into your kidney. Furthermore, the theater has been closed for more than four years and is legally barred from showing movies. Let's put the property to use, and let's have another place where students, faculty, alumni and residents can share a drink and a few laughs.