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It’s a space so nice, they built it thrice. And on Tuesday, February 17, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends all gathered at the James C. ������Ƶ Student Union to cut the ribbon on a newly remodeled Donovan’s Pub.

With a jazz trio playing on-stage, guests mingled beneath the bar’s hand-carved inscription, “Céad Míle Fáilte,” Gaelic for “a hundred thousand welcomes.” Others sat in the café, where a flat-screen television showed pictures of the construction process — a vivid reminder of just how far the pub has come during the last year.

Donovan’s Pub, first constructed in the mid-80s, was the brainchild of John ’52 and Patty Donovan P’87. Its third redesign comes after construction of the new Case Library and Geyer Center for Information Technology necessitated using JCC space for library resources.

(From left) CLSI Director Greg Victory, Patty Donovan P’87, President Rebecca Chopp, Senior Class Gift Committee member Jackie Adlam ’09, and SGA President David Kusnetz ’09 cut the ribbon on a new Donovan’s Pub. (Photo by Luke Connolly ’09)

Case-Geyer was dedicated in 2007, and the pub was left a dark shadow of its former self. At the university’s request, Patty Donovan stepped forward to help re-recreate it.

Administrators and student government members rolled up their sleeves as well. “This is a success story,” said SGA President David Kusnetz ’09. “Ordinary students and administration members came together with the same goal to revitalize this space, and we were determined to see it through.”

After three at-bats, no one is willing to trust that, if you build it, they will come. So the Class of 2009 has spent the past six months trying to set a new Senior Class Gift record and create an endowment to support activities in the pub — events like this year’s Super Bowl Party, Monday Night Trivia games, and faculty-staff happy hour.

After all, “leaving something behind keeps you connected when you’re an alum,” said senior class gift committee member Katrina Zawojski ’09.

Her sentiments were echoed by Patty Donovan, who has, once again, built her family’s legacy on campus. “It has been a labor of love for me, my husband, and my family,” she said. “We’re glad that it turned out so well.”

Donovan’s Pub will once again serve as a welcome center for Reunion, May 28-30. Visit for registration details.