Members of the Union Advisory Board Monday expressed a wish to help the University Board establish a sports bar and coffee shop in the 7th Street Underground, but were unable to officially vote because there was not a quorum at the meeting.

Pending the results of a vote by mail, various members of the Union Advisory Board will add to the planning committee previously established by the UB.

Members of SONOR have been working on the proposal for the past two years on this project and were joined by the UB six months ago.

The project was brought to the Union Advisory Board to seek help for the project, UB Vice Chair Caleb Judy said at the meeting.

“We can’t do this by ourselves,” Katie Strejc, UB main stage coordinator said at the meeting.

The vote by mail proposes three actions. The first is recognizing and supporting the goal of the project, “to develop a place on campus for students to socialize in a safe, fun and unique environment,” according to the project’s proposal. The vote also would continue recognizing the area as a multiple use area by the Union and form the committee for the planning.

Board members were provided copies of the UB’s proposal, which outlines involvement of the groups and phases of the project. Questions from board members centered on where the UB is obtaining funding, and what exactly will happen in each stage.

Funding at this point is set to come from the UB and Bob Sullinger of the Great Plains Group, a consultant for SONOR, Judy said. Additional funding will come from where ever it can be attained, he said.

The phases have various completion dates with final completion penciled in for fall 2003, though those dates are all flexible, Judy said. The phases include structural changes and addition of furniture, changes to decor, technological changes, obtaining a food vendor and new entertainment, according to the project’s proposal.

A planning committee had already been established, consisting of two UB representatives, two SONOR representatives and two Student Senate members.

Those numbers will be decreased to one representative from those organizations and some union representatives will be added, pending a favorable vote.

Representatives added to the committee will include the Housing and Dining Office, the Union, the Student Life Office, Safety Programs, the Great Plains Group and the Union Advisory Board, to total 10 members.

The vote by mail will be due before the end of the week, and if the vote is favorable, the committee will meet for the first time during the week after Spring Break.