Kyle Steele’s Response to some of the information contained in the petition’s statement
Hi Dewey,
Petition: Stop Negotiation, Release Information, Facilitate Discussion, Consider Sustainability
If you would like to sign this, give us an email (aes@acadiau.ca) and tell us where we can find you to get your signature.
Background
It has recently come to our attention that a Tim Horton’s may be very close to moving into the Students’ Union Building (SUB). From the information we have (which is very little), there is a contract that is being negotiated between the Acadia Students’ Union (ASU) and Tim Horton’s, but no other alternatives are currently being considered.
The ASU Executive have explained to us:
Last year, the ASU conducted surveys on food service at the SUB, where students wrote in their first choice for coffee shop. Tim Horton’s came up first with more than 90% of the vote, and over 400 people filled out the survey. In focus groups, Tim Horton’s also came up as the overwhelming first choice over other options. Students were repeatedly told about these options by emails, posters and other media around campus. They also identified the major concerns with food in the SUB, which included student employment, price, and consistency. Corporatization of the SUB was surveyed and not found to be an issue by a vast majority of students (around 90%).
After the focus groups ended, we heard nothing regarding the foodservice in the SUB until over a year later when it was announced that the ASU bought out the contract with Chartwells, and would be self-operating a market and grille. The news release said it had received a letter of intent from a business to occupy the Perkin’s space, but could not discuss any details. It was rumored that Tim Horton’s was this business. Upon hearing this I wrote an open letter to Kyle Steele, ASU President, expressing my concern over the implications of a Tim Horton’s in the SUB. A response came a week later stating reasons that Tim Horton’s “will be the operation that opens in the SUB in September 09″.
Petition
We believe that survey results and focus groups are useful in guiding a selection of options, but those options and their proposals should have been made public so students, faculty, staff and the community could weigh in on the economic, social and environmental consequences of each choice. We believe that a survey and focus groups are no replacement for a consensus reached by public discussion, and that the ASU has made no motion to engage all stakeholders in this open discussion over a decision that has definite implications for the sustainability, image and culture of Wolfville (a fair-trade town) and Acadia University (a university with a genuine commitment to sustainability).
Therefore, we call on the Acadia Students’ Union and the Acadia University Administration to halt any negotiations or decisions regarding food service in the Perkin’s space until the Students’ Union makes a public release of all information regarding this decision that is legally allowed and moves to engage all members of the campus and greater Wolfville community in the selection of an option that benefits the sustainability, image and culture of Wolfville and Acadia University. Furthermore, as a fair-trade town and university with a genuine commitment to sustainability, we ask that an option at least be seriously considered that is consistent with the Acadia University strategic plan goal of creating “a deep appreciation of our natural environment and an active commitment to sustainability among all members of the campus community.”
Amy to Ray Ivany
Dear Mr. Ivany,
Firstly, I would like to thank you for your diligence in responding to student concerns about the water fountains on campus. I have since been notified that there is a work order at Physical Plant for fixing the fountains we suggested in the fountain assessment. I feel this is a critical step forward and very beneficial for Acadia and its sustainability initiatives.
My main reason for contacting you today is with regards to a new concern on campus: the situation with Student Union Building (SUB) food service provider. The Acadia Student Union (ASU) executives have been working on opting-out of the contract that binds the Student Union Building to Chartwells. They have done this successfully, which I feel (Read on …)
Alan Warner on Fair Trade to Kyle Steele
Dear Kyle
New Facebook Group Emerges: “WE WANT A TIM HORTONS IN THE SUB”
Current description: “Havings a Tim’s in the SUB would be sweet, and Chartwells has been bought out as the food service provider in the SUB. If you like Tim’s, please join.” Current membership: 108 (as of 11:12pm…the number is growing pretty fast).
I’ve asked group creator (as listed on facebook) to submit (or encourage his members to) any communication he has sent the ASU to get another opposing viewpoint on this blog besides Kyle’s, but as of yet I’ve received no response.
The group can be found here.
Message to the creator (of the facebook group, not the allmighty creator):
hey,
I’m keeping a blog following the debate about tim’s in the sub…most of our stuff is anti-tim’s because those are the people that have copied me on emails (and emails I’ve sent…I’m a bit biased (Read on …)
Sustainability Projects Coordinator Letter Addressing Sustainability Concerns for a Food Service in the SUB
Dear Mr. Steele,
It has come to my attention that the ASU is exploring options for a new food service provider to assume operations at the former Perkin’s location in the Students’ Union Building. This is good news for Acadia; a new operation that serves as a destination for students, staff and faculty, that generates activity in the SUB, and addresses a gap in food-service provision on campus is an exciting opportunity for the ASU and a welcome addition to campus life. I understand that a number of factors have been considered in the decision making process thus far and agree that consistent service, operating hours, quality assurance and price point are important considerations for students.
However, I believe this is also an exciting opportunity to help Acadia move towards sustainability. The vision for Acadia outlined in the Acadia Strategic (Read on …)
Call for Multi-Stakeholder Meeting
In reply to Kyle’s email to Alan Warner, copied to Neil Caruthers, Tom Herman, Ray Ivany & others.
Kyle -
Given the proliferation of multinationals into student union buildings around the country as you’ve outlined, it sounds like Acadia has the unique opportunity to differentiate itself by including all stakeholders in a discussion over how the ASU will move forward with a decision that is consistent with the social, economic and environmental commitment of the University and its image across Canada (and the U.S./World, as it may be).
I hope this will happen as soon as possible.
-dewey
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 (Read on …)
To Kyle Steele, from Alan Warner
Dear Kyle
I want to voice my strong opposition to the notion of putting a Tim Hortons in the student union building. The University is trying hard to move to a green and sustainable campus for the benefit of the students, the community, and the planet. Tim Hortons offers no sustainable/fair trade coffee choices in what is the first fair trade town in Canada. It has steadfastly refused to offer such coffee. Most universities have or are on the way to moving toward fair trade in Canada. We appear to be moving in the opposite direction. We have just initiated (Read on …)
News From Meeting with ASU Executive
Thanks so much for your response to last night’s email…I saw many well articulated messages come out of this, and while I have no idea how many letters got sent, I know that it got many people thinking, including the ASU executive. You can still let the executive know how you feel, as they are pursuing Tim Horton’s to be consistent with student opinion, and the more we show that sustainability is a concern to students, the more likely it will play a factor in the decision involving food services in the SUB.
We’d also like to point out that the ASU has done a wonderful job with incorporating sustainability into the student-run grille and market that will open this fall. (I forgot to put this in the email form of this that got sent out, but it is definitely worth mentioning).
(Read on …)