Seven members of the Government of the Student Body, and two students who were friends of GSB members, showed up to the Varsity Theater open forum Thursday night.

A large portion of the open forum was dedicated to discussing how the plan has evolved from its origin in July.

“If you would have asked us in July or August what we thought this project was going to cost us we would have guessed in the $500 range,” said Finance Director Tom Danielson.

Those involved in the project are now asking for $177,100 in startup expenditures, plus $187,802 for annual operational funds.

Ian Ringgenberg, graduate student in educational leadership and policy studies and member of the Campustown Student Association, the group proposing the Varsity project, reassured the group that the proposed numbers are conservative estimates.

“Uncertainty can be frustrating,” Ringgenberg said. “We have gone through a list of people who have no vested interest in making this a sweet deal for us.”

Danielson added that the project is well thought out.

“As far as projects go, I think this is one of the more detailed plans out there,” Danielson said.

Brian Ryherd, a Campustown senator, said this project wasn’t all about how much money is being spent on it.

“The main goal of the theater isn’t profitability, it’s the activity it’s providing.”

Chandra Peterson, GSB vice president, said the idea of adding an activity to Campustown that could be used by the under 21 crowd was a draw for Tom Hill, vice president for student affairs, when he heard the proposal.

The theater will provide a few jobs to students as well.

There will be an opportunity for a graduate student to take on the roll of the graduate assistant for the theater.

The graduate assistant would hopefully be in educational leadership and policy studies or hotel restaurant management.

The assistant would have a large role in the daily operations of the theater.

There will also be several openings for general staff.

The only concern that came from the group was that of the projected $60,000 annual loss.

Luke Roling, chairman of the University Affairs Committee, was in attendance and pointed out that one source of revenue for the theater would come from advertising.

GSB will vote on The Varsity Theater bill at the Feb. 4 meeting, and the bill will be brought up for debate at the March 24 Board of Regents meeting.

If GSB passes the bill the Regents are the group that would be putting its name on the lease for the theater.