C-Haus Reopens

The Coughy Haus is open again, albeit with a bit less grunge and with the action relocated from the basement to the main floor. The campus pub reopened to students on March 23 for a much-anticipated night of live music after the building was temporarily shuttered for the fall semester and a portion of spring.

The closing occurred after concerns emerged about the basement stage and bar area, which is inaccessible to students with disabilities (there is no elevator). Issues of accessibility coincided with the unexpected departure of a manager and the need for additional repairs.

During the six-month closure, workers renovated the building’s first floor bathrooms to ADA standards, widened doorways, removed old asbestos tile and replaced the flooring, painted walls, and built a stage in the room to the right of the front entrance. The C-Haus liquor license, which had lapsed, was also renewed.

The C-Haus was only open on weekends at first but quickly expanded its hours to Wednesday through Saturday. Future plans include offering broader food options, and adding a ramp at the front door to complement one already at the side of the building. Beloiter Nathan Brault’15 took the reins as the new C-Haus manager in March.

The lower level of C-Haus remains closed, and the space will be utilized for storage, the only usage approved by the fire marshal at present. Acting Dean of Students Cecil Youngblood says the renovations needed to open the basement are cost-prohibitive and would include an elevator, a new ventilation system, and additional means of egress.