September 11, 2011
Here is the text of the email sent out by KSU President on Friday to announce the end of the Boycott. It was sent to the TWAK mailing list, but here it is, for the record.
King’s Students,
Today, myself and Omri Haiven had a meeting with Nick Hatt (Dean of Residence), Celine Beland (Sodexo Manager), and Dr. Anne Leavitt (President of the King’s). At the meeting we submitted the KSU’s list of demands to Sodexo and the Administration with the understanding that should those demands be agreed to, the KSU boycott of Sodexo would come to an end. Those demands are attached here.
I’m happy to report that the meeting was productive and positive. The result is a letter that Dr. Leavitt delivered to me this afternoon. The letter states that a Food Advisory Committee will be struck as soon as possible. Three student representatives will sit on the committee, which will direct and advise contract re-negotiations now, and continue to advise food services on campus well into the future.
Further, the letter affirms that the King’s Students’ Union can assume management of the canteen at the Wardroom as soon as a proper business proposal is submitted. This marks the beginning of student-run food at King’s and is a great leap ahead for the priorities of students on campus. We look forward to implementing the KSU-run canteen as soon as possible.
This is all to say the KSU boycott of Sodexo is a success and that the boycott is now over. Students were heard loud and clear, and our energy and passion carried us to achieve our goals. Our victory ensures that students have, for the first time, a direct voice in food services on campus. This represents a big step for student interests in food services, but there’s still much to be done. We now have a mechanism by which students can affect change in food services, but we still need to continue to work hard to get a food system that works for all of us. This campaign has seen a huge amount of student involvement and passion, and we need to carry that through to ensure that food services cater to students’ needs first and foremost.
Congratulations and thanks to everyone for all their help during this campaign. Most importantly, I’d like to thank Zona, who can now rest assured knowing that though she leaves King’s behind soon, she leaves behind a food system that will work better because she sparked a movement. I thank her for that, and I thank her for everything she’s done over the years to help students.
Proudly yours,
Gabe Hoogers
—
Gabe Hoogers
President
University of King’s College Students’ Union
Local 11, Canadian Federation of Students
(c) 902.880.9039
(t) 902.429.3399
