I am excited to see that SNAX and the sandwich issue have been brought up so often in the past week as a result of the upcoming student elections. This is everyone’s cafe, after all – without student interest, we will not be able to convince the administration to change their minds about sandwich sales. That being said, I would like to clarify the current situation to avoid the spread of misinformation.
First and foremost, negotiations have not failed. They are ongoing, and have been since first semester. The Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) executives are still meeting with members of the administration, and will continue to do so until an agreement is reached. We have made progress: the original issue of liability is now a moot point thanks to the efforts of AUS execs and SNAX management.
Second, the sale of sandwiches was never a right held by SNAX. About a decade ago, we began selling sandwiches. Last fall, the administration requested that we stop selling them. It is now our goal to include sandwiches in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), since they were not included in the first place.
Third, I would like to highlight the ways in which students can get involved in the sandwich issue. The Food Coalition meets every week, and aims to draw student-run food initiatives together. This group is open to everyone, and currently includes a representative from SSMU, VP Finance and Operations Kathleen Bradley. There are petitions posted at SNAX for those who would like to have their say. And every email to Deputy Provost Ollivier Dyens will make a difference. He can be reached at: ollivier.dyens@mcgill.ca.
We have not accepted defeat. We are not done fighting for the rights of students. And we appreciate the support of McGill students and staff who have worked with us over the past year.
—Emma Meldrum, SNAX Assistant Manager