the

ther Press

January 27 1999

 
 

   
 
 

Annette Martin

If you've wandered up tothe _
student building lately looking
for a welcome cup of coffee and
a quick pannini while you
sprawl over the furniture,
you've probably been disap-
pointed.

The agreement between
the catering company, Beaver
Foods, and the Douglas College
Student Society—now known
as the Douglas College Student
Union (DSU)—was terminated
at the end of last semester, and
will not be renewed.

While it is still possible to
use the microwaves and the pop
and games machines in the
upstairs lounge, food service
will not be resumed until new
plans have been finalized.

Alternative arrangements ~
have been negotiated with
Brooklyn Tap & Grill, who plan
to provide a pub and bar food
facility sometime this spring—
dependent on liquor and business
licences.

If all goes according to plan,
Brooklyn will renovate half of the
current student lounge into a warm,
jazzy restaurant/bar with a ma-
hogany, brown and burgundy colour
scheme.

Students who aren't comfortable
with licenced premises will still be
able to use the front part of the
lounge that will be separated from
the proposed pub by doors.

George Efstathiadis, the man-
ager of Brooklyn Tap & Grill, is very
enthused about the project. “I'm very
confident it will be a go,” he said. “I
don't have a doubt in my mind [that
this will work].”

Food services in the student
society have been an ongoing prob-
lem. Pat Thomasson, from college
facilities, believes that the biggest

a

George Efstathiadis of Brooklyn
A.Martin Photo

The beers are coming!

SS | I a

problem has been “not enough
variety of foods.” Amanda Wheeler,
DSU VP external, confirmed this
opinion, saying that the DSU had
been unable to convince either Beaver
Foods to change their menu or
students to use the food services
despite such promotions as free pizza
days.

When the student building
opened two years ago, the DSU
envisioned a Boston Pizza style
eatery, but it was decided to try a
“Bread Garden” style of cafeteria
instead. However, the result was a
clone of the lower floor cafeteria
(“The Deli”) of the New Westminster
campus, but with pre-made, rather
than fresh, sandwiches.

Consequently, the catering area
of the student building became a
money-losing venture, with the

Sacrificing Macs to the PC god since 1976

caterers unwilling to sink any
more money into the project.
But why terminate —
current services before new
‘arrangements are in place? —
Amanda Wheeler says that the
original contract with Beaver
called for a three-month notice
period of quittal on either side.
As the catering company
was losing money from their
food services in the student
building, and three months
notice would have meant
terminating mid-semester in
February, it seemed more
practical for both parties that
services should cease at the
Christmas Break.
Unfortunately for hungry
students, the pub committee
still needs to ratify the deal
with Brooklyn, and even then,
applying for business and

process.

George Efstathiadis is
hoping to be granted a restau-
rant, rather than a pub, licence so
that the younger students can also
use the renovated area. He plans to
serve restaurant quality—not cafete-
ria-style—food, and while a burger
platter might cost $5.50, George
promises to supply a triple-size
hamburger with all the trimmings for
that price.

_If his application for a restau-
rant licence is accepted, plans call for
the present smoking lounge to be
included, but kept separate, so that
the rest of the pub area could be
smoke-free.

Student pub hours would be
10:30am to 8pm at first, moving to
11:30pm if a demand was established.
Hours would be adjusted every
semester, as needed, but Fridays
would be designated late nights.

......continued on page 3

liquor licences can be a lengthy

Volume 23 Issue 15

   

Beer & studying:
__ do they mix’

ee

~“Annette Martin

    
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
     
   
 

  

Langara doesn't have one, but
UBC, SFU and BCIT all do. On-
campus pubs are a regular
feature of university life, but
do they belong in community-
style colleges? Reaction from
Douglas College students
during an informal poll was
mixed.

Irene, a peer support
counsellor, had only negative
thoughts about a drinking
facility on campus. She has
worked with alcohol recovery
groups and believes that
“studies and drinking don't
mix.” If given the choice she
said that she “wouldn't
encourage that within any
college.”

Jen, a general studies
student, thought for a moment
and then said, “I wouldn't
have a problem with it.”

Tanya, who is studying
stagecraft, thought that the
concept would generate mixed
reactions from the student
body but that overall it “could
be a moneymaker for the
student society.”

So what's your opinion
of beer on campus? Will it
encourage students to spend
more time in the student
building, spend too much time
in the building or will it entice
students from their studies
altogether?

If you have an opinion
on this topic please send your
response to: the Other Press at '
Room 1020, fax: 525-3505 or
email us at: .
opinions@op.douglas.bc.ca