Princeton, NJ
No release date set: Confidential – for internal use only
A spokesperson for President Christopher Eisgruber of Princeton University announced yesterday that a decision has been reached to go forward with a new deal with a major corporate sponsor that will “deliver extremely important benefits to the university community.”
The spokesperson explained, “This plan has been the topic of extended and often quite intense debate among administrators and faculty, as well as students. We understand that at this point, many people still oppose this plan, but President Eisgruber and the University Council have decided to take the long view. After all, there was strong and unrelenting opposition to the University admitting women for many years and today everyone acknowledges that this has been an essential step forward for us.”
“The most important deciding factor for many of us was the importance of being able to continue our commitment to providing the students we admit with a debt-free college package. This is, as you can understand, an enormously expensive and challenging proposition for the University, especially at a time when many of our most successful alumni have been affected by the Great Recession, or have seen their economic futures curtailed by new financial regulations. We now have a partner who has stepped up and offered to help us secure our commitment to being able to accept students without regard to their own financial resources.”
The partner and sponsor for this new arrangement is the McDonald’s Corporation, which is known for operating restaurants in countries around the world.
Administrative move
“The fact is that Nassau Hall was built in 1756, and it no longer really meets our needs for modern administrative office space,” the University spokesperson pointed out. “We believe we can operate more efficiently and effectively in quarters designed specifically to accommodate our new technology profile.” A new location, overlooking Carnegie Lake and with ample parking space, is being vetted, and architects have been invited to submit preliminary design proposals.
Under this new arrangement, the University will move its administrative offices to this new location at the end of 2016. McDonald’s will then renovate Nassau Hall to accommodate a new and spacious McDonald’s restaurant offering both traditional McDonald’s fare and new Princeton-themed options. As Charles Loomis, a spokesman for McDonald’s on this project, explains, “We will be renovating very conservatively to preserve the historic character of the building. The offices on the additional floors will not only provide office space for our own needs, but also rooms where professors can arrange to hold classes or give seminars. We consider this a flagship location for our brand.”
“The fact is,” he adds, “the student center used to be located right next to Nassau Hall before they moved it to Frist Hall,” Loomis adds. “I believe faculty and students will appreciate the convenience of our new location, which is a much shorter walk from Firestone Library and many classroom buildings and dorms.”
Brochures explaining the history of Nassau Hall will be available for visitors. “This building has an incredibly important history, and we are eager to tell people about it,” Loomis explains. “During the American Revolutionary War, Nassau Hall was possessed by both British and American forces and suffered considerable damage, especially during the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777. From July to October 1783, Princeton was the capital of the early United States and Nassau Hall hosted the entire American government. The Congress of the Confederation met in the building's library on the second floor.”
“I’m sure that George Washington ate here, or at least snacked here,” Loomis adds.
An active presence in the community
Ronald McDonald will be a regular visitor at the Nassau Hall restaurant, and will also be seen at other places on campus like the Art Museum, cheering at the football games, and attending selected lectures (with the advance permission of the professor, of course).
“Ronald is very education-friendly,” Loomis explains.
Ronald will also be a visitor in town, greeting residents and tourists alike with a friendly smile, and will be available for photos with children and anyone else who wishes.
Art Auction
As part of the kick-off to this conversion, McDonald’s will commission noteworthy up-and-coming artists to create their own paintings of McDonald’s menu offerings in their own original and unique styles. They will also be invited to submit portraits of Ronald McDonald in whatever style they choose, but preferably in recognizable Princeton settings. All proceeds from the sale of these paintings will go into the Ronald McDonald Princeton University Opportunity Scholarship Fund. A public auction will be held in Alexander Hall to accommodate the expected crowds.
Loomis adds, “We believe that this will be of special interest to Princeton alumni who are also serious art collectors. Prior to the auction, there will be a special exhibit of selected paintings at the Princeton Art Museum, which has become well-known for its expanding collection of modern and avant-garde art works.”
“If Andy Warhol were still alive, we would of course invite him. He would be a natural for this. But now we see it as an opportunity to identify and encourage exciting new voices in the art community.”
The restaurant will also sell t-shirts and sweatshirts with the logos of both McDonald’s and Princeton, and with pictures selected from the art created for the opening art contest. Postcards and posters of the paintings will also be available, with all proceeds going to the Opportunity Scholarship Fund.
Scholarships
Various levels of scholarships will be provided through the Ronald McDonald Princeton University Opportunity Scholarship Fund. The top level will include Quarter Pounder Scholarships for full tuition and board; foreign students will receive Royale with Cheese Scholarships. There will also be smaller grants for students who do not need as much help – the McNuggets Scholarship will award a student $20,000 a year to help with tuition and expenses, while the McFries Scholarship will provide $10,000 a year. For graduate students who have already begun families, McDonalds will also offer Kids Meals Grants of $5,000 a year to help with living costs.
“McDonald’s will not play any role in selecting the scholarship recipients,” Loomis adds. “We want to preserve the University’s complete integrity in admitting students and awarding financial aid. We are simply here to support the University in its mission.”
“At McDonald’s we are proud to have numerous Princeton alumni working for us, so we feel a sense of personal connection. Our hope is to be seen as a point of opportunity for members of the Princeton community both in school and after graduation.”
A Commitment to Bold Action
In the view of one administration member, who declined to be identified, “President Eisgruber is now completing his second year as president of the university. We believe this stands out as a symbol of his willingness to think in bold new ways.”
Suit to be filed
A committee of faculty, students, and alumni opposed to the plan has announced it will file suit to halt it.
PAH - 04/04/14