$1.6m fireplace has $2 payoff for FSU Manager
The 13 month ordeal is almost over as FSU Building Manager John b. Young's dream of a fireplace in the Student Centre's Oasis eating area is nearly complete.
The project which has met an inordinate amount of delays has been driven by a $2 bet made 15 months ago between Young and FSU Food Services Manager Steve Sullivan when the project first began to take shape, and then was shelved. However, Young's determination to collect the precious twoonie from Sullivan, rather than pay it out and admit he lost the bet has been key to having the fireplace, estimated to have cost $1.6 mil installed come hell or high water.
Students who have been milling about the Student Centre cafeteria have been sharing mixed emotions about the fireplace.
“I'm really going to miss that plastic sheeting that tarped off the area,” said Victor Livingstone III, a fifth year general arts student. “I'm not sure how I feel about this fireplace. I thought the Oasis was cozy enough without it.”
Reba Vella wasn't so diplomatic in assessing the situation.
“My friends and I had planned an art project around the tarp that was there. We were going to paint a mural on it. This really sucks,” said Vella, a seventh year fine art student. “I suppose once the fireplace is put in place they'll move the bench seating around so we'll lose our own Stonehenge/personal maze.”
“I can't believe a fireplace is going into that space,” exclaimed sixth year MIA student Frankie Kincade. “I really liked the ambiance the tarp gave off to that entire area. Where else could I eat a meal and feel like I was in a perpetual construction zone, and I really didn't mind getting dust on my food either. It added flavour”
For Young the installation is a personal victory, but he isn't ready to gloat yet, only offering up a “this is huge by large” comment on the project. The fireplace comes on the heels of another personal victory for Young, the purchase of a number of red baseball hats embroidered with the letters E.R.T. for the college's Emergency Response Team. That purchase was opposed by some in the college community but Young's determination shone through again.
And while many students are upset with the fireplace, one student is at least taking a positive approach.
“I heard the fireplace installation is expected to be complete by October 24,” said Larry Ledbetter. “I think that it's great that it's coinciding with the beginning of Sexual Awareness Week. Now my girlfriend and I can christen the fireplace area with the warm glow of an inviting fire. I can't wait. I'm just absolutely giddy thinking about it.”
The only thing that Young is disappointed about is that the Student Centre building manager, Mr. Sutton won't be here for the unveiling, but that should be par for the course as Sutton is used to being left out of the loop.
While final plans are still being arranged for the ceremonial lighting of the fireplace flame, one idea that is gaining smoke is lighting a wheelbarrow full of Canadian Tire money on fire the that FSU has collected over the past few years. One thing for certain is that when ever that flame sparks up Young will be collecting his twoonie in a very public display from Sullivan.
Disclaimer: Stories printed in the Fanshawe Distorter are in fact fictious. Any resemblance to persons real or dead is unintentional and entirely hilarious.
The project which has met an inordinate amount of delays has been driven by a $2 bet made 15 months ago between Young and FSU Food Services Manager Steve Sullivan when the project first began to take shape, and then was shelved. However, Young's determination to collect the precious twoonie from Sullivan, rather than pay it out and admit he lost the bet has been key to having the fireplace, estimated to have cost $1.6 mil installed come hell or high water.
Students who have been milling about the Student Centre cafeteria have been sharing mixed emotions about the fireplace.
“I'm really going to miss that plastic sheeting that tarped off the area,” said Victor Livingstone III, a fifth year general arts student. “I'm not sure how I feel about this fireplace. I thought the Oasis was cozy enough without it.”
Reba Vella wasn't so diplomatic in assessing the situation.
“My friends and I had planned an art project around the tarp that was there. We were going to paint a mural on it. This really sucks,” said Vella, a seventh year fine art student. “I suppose once the fireplace is put in place they'll move the bench seating around so we'll lose our own Stonehenge/personal maze.”
“I can't believe a fireplace is going into that space,” exclaimed sixth year MIA student Frankie Kincade. “I really liked the ambiance the tarp gave off to that entire area. Where else could I eat a meal and feel like I was in a perpetual construction zone, and I really didn't mind getting dust on my food either. It added flavour”
For Young the installation is a personal victory, but he isn't ready to gloat yet, only offering up a “this is huge by large” comment on the project. The fireplace comes on the heels of another personal victory for Young, the purchase of a number of red baseball hats embroidered with the letters E.R.T. for the college's Emergency Response Team. That purchase was opposed by some in the college community but Young's determination shone through again.
And while many students are upset with the fireplace, one student is at least taking a positive approach.
“I heard the fireplace installation is expected to be complete by October 24,” said Larry Ledbetter. “I think that it's great that it's coinciding with the beginning of Sexual Awareness Week. Now my girlfriend and I can christen the fireplace area with the warm glow of an inviting fire. I can't wait. I'm just absolutely giddy thinking about it.”
The only thing that Young is disappointed about is that the Student Centre building manager, Mr. Sutton won't be here for the unveiling, but that should be par for the course as Sutton is used to being left out of the loop.
While final plans are still being arranged for the ceremonial lighting of the fireplace flame, one idea that is gaining smoke is lighting a wheelbarrow full of Canadian Tire money on fire the that FSU has collected over the past few years. One thing for certain is that when ever that flame sparks up Young will be collecting his twoonie in a very public display from Sullivan.
Disclaimer: Stories printed in the Fanshawe Distorter are in fact fictious. Any resemblance to persons real or dead is unintentional and entirely hilarious.
