Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part series on GSB’s proposal to rent and renovate what was formerly Varsity Theater. This part focuses on the outstanding issues that left the senate delaying the vote for another week — to Wednesday night’s meeting.

The proposal to buy the old Varsity Theater and reopen it as the student-run Cyclone Cinema came to be when Government of the Student Body Finance Director Tom Danielson went to GSB President Jon Turk with an idea.

Turning the Varsity Theater into a student-run cinema was something new for GSB. Property acquisition isn’t something the GSB Senators look at often, Turk said.

Danielson researched the feasibility of buying the theater, and eventually wanted to reach out to students and administrators, which is where the Varsity Theater Research Task Force came in.

When Dione Somerville, dean of students, first heard of the project, she said she remembers thinking it was a very creative idea. “It’s unique, it’s creative, innovative. I commend our students for thinking up this project,” she said.

“The students have done an admirable job addressing the issues students and senators have raised,” Somerville said.

The task force was officially formed by Turk in November, and fulfilled its major task in its proposal presentation to the Senate at three GSB meetings, the first of which was Jan. 13.

The proposal was originally slated to be voted on at the Feb. 3 meeting, but the vote was postponed.

Turk said there were and continue to be some outstanding questions that still need to be answered, and he is hoping to see an all-inclusive business plan before the vote.

Turk included a marketing plan as one aspect of the proposal that is still missing.

In the past week, there has been some debate about having a board of directors for the theater. Turk said it’s still unclear who is will be responsible for the management of the theater, and what role the Senate will play.

Turk said he has a balancing act to do.

“I’ve been able to attend all the informational sessions and hear student feedback, which has been both positive and negative, but this really isn’t my decision at this point,” Turk said.

If the bill passes through the Senate with a two-thirds vote at Wednesday’s meeting, Turk will have three options: to sign the bill, not sign the bill or veto the bill.

“If I sign the bill, it says I give my consent,” Turk said. “I have six days to do that. If I chose not to sign, it means I have reservations or objections somewhere.”

Turk added that a veto of the bill would mean he could not consent to the allocation of the money.

If Turk chose to veto the bill, the Senate would have two weeks to override the veto.

The override would take two-thirds of the entire Senate. All of the senators not seated when the override vote occurs would count as a “no” vote.

Turk said he has not yet reached a decision as to what he would like to see happen to the bill.

“I have to balance if this is a good expenditure,” Turk said. “I have to look at the economic times and political ramifications.”

Turk addressed the issue that the City of Ames might not support the project in the way the task force had initially hoped.

“The city has been supportive in helping with codes and taxes, but the theater isn’t going to be hosting student activity fee programs in the summer months — but the hope was for the contribution of programming and events, which hasn’t happened,” Turk said.

Turk said he looks forward to the Senate’s debate on the bill, which, he said, will help him make his decision.

If the bill gets through the Senate and Turk, then the next step would be to gain administrative approval in order to get the bill on the agenda for a Board of Regents meeting. Their next meeting will be telephonic, run from the board offices, March 24.

Getting the Varsity bill on the March 24 meeting agenda is the task force’s goal, but “they don’t like putting big issues on telephonic meeting agendas,” Turk said.

If the bill doesn’t pass, Turk said he has other issues to consider, such as looking at other non-alcoholic venues for students and rejuvenating Campustown.

Turk isn’t the only member of GSB who hasn’t made a decision on how he or she  will cast a vote.

“I’ve received several e-mails from my constituents in Frederiksen Court — most of them not in support of the project,” said GSB Senator Derek Grygiel, senior in chemical engineering.

Another factor possibly preventing Grygiel from providing a yes vote is “looking at the numbers, — 1,600 people is quite a few to fill the 33 percent capacity.”

“I was a bit surprised last week by the liability insurance. The idea behind it is good, but we have to look and see if this is economically feasible, make sure it’s not going to suck GSB dry,” Grygiel said.

GSB Senator Dan Finnegan, senior in aerospace engineering, said he has been receiving e-mail from engineers, all uniformly negative.

“Those have been weighing heavily on my decision,” Finnegan said.