In UFV Speaks, our intrepid reporters pick a topic currently relevant to UFV students or staff, and ask them for their heated opinions to get a real sense of how the UFV population feels about the facts.
Several weeks ago it was confirmed that UFV purchased the former location of Finnegan’s Pub and Phoenix Ballroom to use as a temporary location for offices and classrooms that will be moved out of their regular locations due to future remediation plans for the A and D buildings. These plans occupy the site’s use for the next several semesters, but what’s to succeed the lot that succeeded the pub? UFV has not made any concrete plans about the next occupation for the lot. To help the university decide we’ve asked several students about their ideas on how the soon-to-be-available space should be used.
The seemingly obvious answer is to make another pub with Finnegan-like qualities such as their former and affordable happy hour (rest in peace $4 sangria), and creating a welcoming space for students. Of course if this was run by the Student Union Society we might end up with another Canoe situation, so different management would be crucial.
UFV English student, Krystal, is adamant that UFV should provide a place for one to have a drink with their classmates after an afternoon or evening lecture. With a pub on campus students would again have a place to spend time with each other in a casual setting without the thick study atmosphere that fills the SUB and the library.
Krystal added, “Honestly, I could use a drink after most of my classes.”
Though many agreed with her, we also heard some ideas that branched from the pub idea.
John from the science department thinks UFV should follow Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s lead by building a student brewing lab which would be the space for the creation of a new brewing program. Because of the booming craft beer industry in B.C., this would provide many students with a useful trade that is in demand. It would be another trade-like program for the university to add to their already wide selection, upping their trades reputation, or it could be a branch of the chemistry program for those working on their undergrad. John adds that this would also be a place for students not in the program to try the beers being made in the lab, creating easy access to beer without building a pub.
Unrelated to alcohol, social science student, Rachel, thinks we should solve the parking problem at UFV once and for all with the opportunity to do something “truly great” with the space.
She thinks a multi-level parking garage built by the university would do the trick. Rachel does have good reason to back up this suggestion, for it is a well-known fact that finding a parking spot on campus mid-day can get quite challenging. Maybe the multi-level parking garage would solve this problem for good.
With these helpful suggestions, maybe the university will take one of these into consideration as they make plans for what the lot will be used for after the remediation projects are complete. As the property will soon begin to transform, we’ll have to fight another day as we live without a place to purchase alcohol on campus. We’ve made it for a while now; I’m sure we can continue.
