Response from Kyle Steele
Hello Dr. Warner,
Thank you for the email. Let me start my response by stating that the ASU is a student government organization, meaning there are elected officials holding office who are responsible to our constituents. This includes 2 members of the executive and an entire student council that the executive as a whole is responsible to.
Upon my first election, one of my goals was to keep close watch on food services in the SUB. Watching that service go downhill since it began in our building, it became very obvious early on in my first term, that food service needed to be re-evaluated. We had established surveys, and focus groups to engage students in the process and let them have their say with regards to what was happening in our building. These surveys were commissioned by the ASU, not by Chartwell’s and not by the University. After the survey, some 90% of those who responded indicated that a Tim Hortons would be their choice of coffee shop in the SUB going forward. This was consistent amongst our focus groups as well. Approximately 20% of the student body participated in these surveys and focus groups, which is a very good indicator of the general mood on campus (considering 10% is the general acceptance level). Every member of the student body was given an opportunity to participate in these discussions as there were advertisements on Facebook, messages on the ASU website and all-student emails focused around the topic at hand.
After receiving what was an overwhelming response in favor of a Tim Hortons, the new executive proceeded to investigate this option and pursue this service in the SUB. Tim Hortons has indicated a desire to open up in the Students’ Centre which is consistent with the feedback we received.
With regards to your comment about Universities moving towards Fair Trade - maybe you are right. But as Chair of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, I’ve had to do a lot of traveling around the country to different campuses, and I can assure you that most of them have either a Starbucks or a Tim Hortons within their SUB. As an example, St. FX, SMU, Dalhousie and UPEI all have one, or both of these coffee shops on their campuses, and at any given time during the day, there is a lineup - and a big lineup at that. With the exception of SMU, these coffee shops are all recent additions in the SUBs of the other 3 campuses.
With regards to your statement about Fair Trade programs, you’re right, Tim Hortons does not do fair trade, but they do have a sustainability and social responsibility program that I’m sure students took into consideration when making Tim Hortons their first choice. You can find it here: http://www.timhortons.com/ca/en/goodwill/1521.html, and I would encourage you to read it in its entirety. Tim Hortons is also very active within the community as I’m sure you’re aware. The Timbits Hockey program and the Tim Hortons Summer Camps are just two very obvious examples of how much this company is directly impacted by Tim Hortons.
Let me just make it clear that I am not particularly attached to any coffee shop. I don’t drink coffee very often, and quite frankly, I don’t have money to waste on it. I am doing this because of indicators given to me over my two years in this position. We are very confident in our decision, and we aren’t twisting anyone’s arm when it comes to buying at Tim Hortons. Keep in mind that we will be operating our own convenience store and grill line next year that will be using produce from the Acadia Community Farm. We will also be hiring students, unlike the current system, and with the plans going forward, the ASU will be able to put more money into programming initiatives and into the Student Activities Fund than ever before.
Finally, I have spoken with many, many, professors and staff members who have gotten wind of this and have gone out of their way to express their unequivocal support for this initiative. Regardless of the services that go into the SUB, we will always have groups in opposition to our decision. This is the nature of the democratic process that the ASU is proud to be a part of.
With Acadia Spirit,
Kyle Steele
0 comments
Leave a comment
Read more
« To Kyle Steele, from Alan Warner
Call for Multi-Stakeholder Meeting »