THE CORD The tie that bin ds Wilfrid Laurier Un ivers ity s in ce 1926
Volume 52, Issue 3
thecord.ca
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Inside the frosh issue
Ready for the long haul?
Easing the transition Faculties create new intitatives to help first-year students adjust to university academics, notably with the creation of seminar classes. Campus, page 4
Light rail debate finally over After eight years of discussion and extensive research, regional council decided to bring light rail transit to Waterloo Region by 2017.
In Depth, page 12
Local, page 7
Preparing for university Part of an online series, this installment looks at extracurricular activities, from the ways to get involved to the long term benefits the experience will provide. Life, page 16
A look ahead Sports Editor Kevin Campbell, News Director Justin Fauteux and Staff Writer Chris Mander compile a season preview of Laurier’s varsity teams for the 2011-12 year. Sports, page 22
New plans for Terrace Aramark to operate WLUSU food court Mike lakusiak In depth edItor
In an email to all students June 9, Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union president Nick Gibson announced that, effective immediately, the Terrace Food Court would be operated by Aramark — the same corporation that currently manages the university’s dining hall along with food service operations at numerous other campuses. The Terrace, once it reopens in September, will feature a Spring Rolls Go franchise and a Subway will replace the current Mr. Sub location. While all current student employees will be retained in the changeover, four full-time staff members have been left out of the new agreement and student managers are not guaranteed to have positions come September. Gibson said that WLUSU had approached Aramark during negotiations for the union’s latest operating agreement with the university. “We were taking so many organizational resources away from direct student support and putting it into the dayto-day operations of a food service,” he said. “It just drains resources and that’s not something the students’ union is here for.” “We really have got to a point in the Terrace where we would not be able to provide much more service than we already provide.” The agreement with Aramark means that WLUSU retains some
We’ve committed to 100 per cent employment of existing student employees.” —Mary Anne Thomas Aramark regional manager nick lachance photogrAphy mAnAger
measure of control over pricing and other aspects of the Terrace, while letting Aramark take care of the general operations. “We’re in an enviable position because we don’t have to deal with the day-to-day operations, but we’re in a deal that’s financially viable for us but also critical role,” Gibson added, though he was unable to discuss specific financial details. Aramark’s Higher Education branch regional manager Mary Anne Thomas said that the arrangement, “Made sense for everyone.” “We’ve committed to 100 per cent employment of existing student employees they already have on board and we’ll continue to add new employment opportunities for students as we go along,” she added, noting that while Aramark currently Campus, page 5
Former Mel’s Diner owner Jerry Smith displays a photo of Fred Nichols enjoying the first legal beer on WLU’s campus, while preparing to open new burger venture Frat Burger located across from Laurier.
Mel’s revival on its way Justin Fauteux neWS dIrector
The morning of April 22, 2010 is one that Jerry Smith would like to forget. Around 5:30 a.m. on the fateful morning, a fire broke out in University Avenue’s Campus Court Plaza, destroying at least five of the mall’s businesses; one of which was Smith’s restaurant, an area favourite, Mel’s Diner. In total, the fire caused nearly $4.5 million in damages, but for Smith, the pain of that day went beyond dollar figures. “The easiest way to describe it is watching your own house burn down. That’s exactly what it felt
like,” said Smith, who arrived at the scene of the fire before it had reached Mel’s Diner, however was forced to watch it slowly be engulfed. “Everything I’ve ever had, collected, did, everyday, day in day out, was all in that ‘house.’ Almost 16 years of my life was in there and that’s why it needs to go back up.” Smith founded Mel’s Diner along with his brother in 1995 and with its nostalgic, 1950’s diner-style and being open 24 hours a day, it became a staple amongst students and locals alike. After the fire, both Smith and the restaurant’s regulars were left in the dark on the future of the
establishment. “It has been completely uncertain,” said Smith of the roughly year and two months since the fire. “I just never knew one day to the next, who would own the property, what they wanted to do with it, when we’d be back in business, if we’d be back in business… I had to kind of get my feet on the ground and get going.” And now, that time for Smith to ‘get going’ has come. In the next two weeks, Smith will open Frat Burger, located on University Ave. West at King St. North, Local, page 8