I was invited to a 'space meeting' with a number of other students and Louise Cowin (super awesome student services lady) to meet with Joe Weinberg, our Chief Administrative Officer. We learned a few things about the fifth floor:
1. UofT has an exclusive food contract with Aramark. Aramark has the run of food services across campus and can contract out to vendors such as Starbucks, as we see downstairs. The students at the meeting brought up the concern that those eating at OISE (aside from bringing our own lunches), really have no where to go in the vicinity for food except Tim Hortons. The Pita joint that used to be on Bedford will likley be replaced by stores that cater to the elite residents soon to live above.
If you go to the fifth floor you can see the remnants of the old Aramark cafeteria. When OISE was consumed by UofT, the food contract became Aramark's. From what I hear, nutrionally-poor food was served at outrageous prices and led to it's downfall. Joe told us that they couldn't compete with other food vendors in the area.
We put forth the idea to Joe that we would like to see something on fifth that serves inexpensive and nutritious food. Perhaps a food co-operative? A discussion has started to look at putting together a food survey that captures what those of us here would like to eat and bringing those needs into a discussion with Joe and Aramark.
2. When asked about improvements to the space, Joe indicated that minimal/modest expenditures were possible for creating a more suitable environment on fifth. A coat of paint and some plants were offered as modest improvements by Joe. We asked him about the long term vision for the space and he spoke cautiously about plans to turn the floor into classroom and research areas.
How do you think the space should be used?
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