(Kyle Albright/AQ)
A student mandate isn’t enough to phase out the sale of bottled water at St. Thomas University.
Even if a majority votes in favour of banning the sale and distribution of bottled water on campus in an upcoming referendum – to be held during the STUSU spring general elections – the university is in year two of a seven-year contract with Pepsi that guarantees the soft-drink manufacturer an exclusive right to supply beverages on campus.
STU spokesperson Jeffrey Carleton said in an email that the university wants all the facts on the table before the decision-making process begins.
“Pending the outcome of the vote and subsequent discussions with the Students’ Union, we would certainly need to examine the terms and condition of that contract with regards to the possibility of any changes,” he said
The Coalition for a Bottled Water Free campus, a group started by former students of the late STU professor John McKendy, is leading the charge.
The STUSU signed on with the coalition last year as a member.
“There is a common misconception that (bottled water) is healthier than tap water when in fact, bottled water comes from municipal sources, and is less regulated,” said Mary-Dan Johnston, vice president administration for the STUSU and a former student of McKendy.
She said the union is considering supplementing the removal of bottled water with something similar to last year’s lug-a-mug campaign, where students can buy reusable water jugs for a discount price.
Carleton said the current Pepsi contract offers tens of thousands of dollars in benefits to STU students.
“The university has a general purpose fund for the benefit of students, the Students’ Union receives financial funding from the contract and so do each of the house committees in the residence system,” he said.
theAQ.net poll
Loading ...
To summarize some of the inane STUSU positions on this referendum.
A: The STUSU is asking for a mandate it already decide it had. Why sign on to a bottle water ban THEN ask students? Evidently many on the STUSU do not care about student opinion and are moving on this issue ass backwards.
First you ask students then you create policy.
B: Since the STUSU has already decided to ban bottle water, this referendum is obliviously a ploy to support the choice already made by a few ideological driven students.
The debate is shallow.
Hypothetical say if the ban referendum failed drastically, would the STUSU redact its position on bottle water? Most likely not, and that is an indication on how much student opinion means to many on the STUSU.
Here’s hoping this might bring out more ppl to the general elections!
Melissa, communication is a biggy! You’re right.
But in essence, the students will be voting on whether or not they’d like to see bottled water phased out, hence the SU wanting a “student mandate” to move forward (in banning the sale and distribution of bottled water on campus).
If they’re not asked outright if they support a ban on bottled water, then the question should be altered to read just that…because that is exactly what they’re voting on…
re: melissa wah
I agree. This article does well to point out that a referendum result in favour of the question will not result in the outright banning of bottled water from that instant. It will mean a longer process of negotiations and reconsidering future contracts with Pepsi. At the same time people should realize that their vote will be significant in the long term.
re: alex solak
I get the feeling people are gonna get riled up about this and have a pretty high turn out. Not to mention it’s a general election which tend to get a better turnout anyway.
How about students doing something constructive…oh I don’t know…say preventing toxins such as fluoride being in our bottled water.
This is as about as dumb as it gets. Probably the same loons who think that humans are responsible for global warming.
It’ll be interesting to see if the general student apathy/laziness helps or hurts the referendum.
I feel like there is a misunderstanding on this issue but am not sure on who’s part.
The students will be asked if the SU has the mandate to lobby for a bottle ban. They will not be asked if bottles should be banned.
If students are not aware of what question they are answering it is clearly going to affect the out come.
So here is to hoping for some good communications between the SU, The AQ, University Admin., and, the general student body.
The last thing this community needs is another botched election like last year.