The Student Fee Committee convened on Monday to discuss the future of Food For Thought Cafe. The committee discussed and voted to approve a proposal that will release Portland State funds for FFT’s rent, pending the student-run cafe is ready to begin operations on Jan. 5.
The committee first discussed a motion to amend FFT’s proposal. The amendment would strike an approval to also fund a point-of-sale system for the student-run cafe.
“I think it makes no sense to separate [the POS system],” said Juan Carlos Rueda, a member of the SFC. “If we finally approve something now, it would be a month before we have to approve something again. Then, they’re going to have a month less to work and a month less to get things done.”
“They supplied everything and beyond for us to release the funds,” added Antoinette Wayne, also an SFC member.
The amendment to remove the POS system from the proposal did not pass with three approving, four disapproving and none abstaining.
The debate surrounding the main proposal focused on how students benefit most. They questioned whether a large, urban student body benefits more when the university invests in a long-term learning experience, or when the university generates income by leasing student space to outside businesses.
“I have a responsibility, that is [to consider] whether my decision is going to benefit the student body at large,” said Khalid Alballaa, another member of the SFC. “I feel confident that opening this cafe would not benefit the student body at large, because it’s a huge drain on the budget and I think other ways could get us the same benefits.”
“This is a special way to learn,” Rueda said. “I don’t believe a big business is willing to commit to the learning process that Food For Thought is willing to commit to. At the end, it’s not about the investment of money, it’s about the investment in [students].”
