USC in View: The executives speak out

I wish “Financially Mistaken with Jen Valadao” was as publicized as “Politically Incorrect with Andrew Forgione.” Big Purple Couch had the vice-president finance of the University Students’ Council take the candidates to task with the help of the rest of the executive. You can read the full passage here.

It’s rare for VPs or current USC members to speak out against candidates platforms, so this is a change and a treat. Many managers are reluctant to mention their future bosses’ ideas aren’t feasible in the future of the USC, and the VPs typically want to look impartial. This is a unique look into what the realities of the candidates’ platforms actually will mean for the organization. It also gives students who aren’t involved with the day-to-day life of the organisation the oppourtunity to look inside.

While not every point is covered, it does give a fairly accurate view of what the candidates could accomplish in the next year. While I would recommend reading the whole document, below is a breakdown of what what said about each candidate, in regards to the favourite campus hang outs, the Spoke and Wave.

Valadao notes candidates really shouldn’t touch the Spoke and Wave.  Adam Fearnall’s “sushi Wednesdays” came under fire as being too costly, because it would require purchasing many perishable ingredients, and even having the sushi outsourced has a high per-unit price. His “Home cooked menu” also takes some heat for the extra training and printing costs associated with the monthly change to the menu. As an example, printing costs about $1000 for each time the menu changes.

Logan Ross’ student discounts at the Wave “would be disastrous for the Spoke or the Wave” if discounts were offered every week to every student. Valadao notes the extending the current Monday night 15 per cent club discount to everyone would cost $900 a week.

Jon Silver’s “starving student burger” could be potentially feasible, but if it is being offered at cost, and the burger is popular, the increased labour costs could harm the operations.

The only candidate whose Spoke platform doesn’t  take some heat is Claire McArthur’s.  Her jukebox in the Spoke was actually researched by the current executive to be the jukebox in the Lounge. The only problem, however, is her changes to the midnight breakfast are changes to a platform point which was “extremely expensive to execute.” The project could cost $10,000 in the future, with the cost of food and staff.