Schulich rez planned in wake of Founders closing

Jacqueline Perlin
Assistant News Editor
In addition to hearing never-before-offered reasons for the closure of Founders residence, students attending the Founders open forum were surprised to learn that there are plans in the works to construct a new residence for the Schulich School of Business.
Speaking at a forum on the impending closure of Founders residence Feb. 9, Richard Francki, assistant vice-president campus services and business operations, noted that with the anticipated 2015 launch of the York University subway station, there would be “other new and unforeseen housing options that we have to start looking forward at.”
Vice-president finance and administration Gary Brewer, who was also at the forum, later said plans for a new Schulich School residence have not been solidified.
“At this point, it’s not different than those other projects. Deans have aspirations for their faculty […] it’s just one of those great big pile of dreams that all people around the university have to improve their programs,” he said.
Vanessa Hunt, vice-president campus life for the York Federation of Students (YFS), thinks the new residence has a good chance of being erected, and said students at Schulich had already begun discussing the possibility.
“I’m assuming [the Schulich students] are getting [the information] from top down. They’re hearing it from their administration,” said Hunt. “At the forum it was discussed as one of those ‘wish-list’ type of things, but personally, I think it’s one of those ‘more-likely wish-list’ type of things.”
Robert Cerjanec, president of the Founders College Student Council, hosted the forum. He finds the idea of a new Schulich residence concerning.
“I think it’s a little bit troubling, considering they’ve decided to close a residence building,” he said, noting students at the forum seemed shocked by the notion.
Francki – who spoke generally on the reasons the residence is closing – said the “economics of running the residence has stopped making sense.”
While the shockingly high 64-percent vacancy rate was often referenced, Francki also brought up new information.
He pushed the issue of deferred maintenance, noting the upkeep of Founders residence would cost approximately $3 million by the year 2015.
“We can focus our resources on the other buildings and reduce the number of buildings [York] has to maintain,” he said.
Mauro Buccheri, the Master of Founders College, agreed the residence closure makes sense.
“None of this is subjective, and none of this is the result of some whimsical thinking,” he said.
The students, however, thought otherwise.
Marc Caporiccio, former president of Founders College Student Council, insisted research shows that students who spend their first year in residence better connect to the institution and the community circle.
“This isn’t entirely a housing issue, nor is this entirely a residence issue,” said Caporiccio. “This is very much a community issue.”
While he admitted his close affiliation with the residence influenced his thinking, he suggested more academic majors or structural improvements be added to the college to make it more desirable.
Hunt agreed changes should be made to save the residence rather than simply closing it.
“The residence does have more than just monetary value,” said Hunt, who added that the YFS will support the students of the Founders community.
Cerjanec thought the open forum was helpful in opening the administration’s eyes to how important student communities at York are.
“I think they understand the concerns of the Founders community, and I believe a lot of suggestions were raised,” said Cerjanec, who added he would be meeting with the administration to discuss the suggestions raised at the forum, and is confident that alternate ideas – such as creating a Founders-only floor in other residences – will be considered.
Vice-president students Robert Tiffin, who also attended the forum, confirmed  the administration has talked about implementing a Founders floor, and has looked at how to continue student participation in intramural sports.
Founders dons at the meeting refused to comment, stating they had been advised by the administration to direct all media requests elsewhere.
The residence, which is set to close at the end of the 2011 winter semester, has been taken off the list of residences students can choose from for the 2011-2012 school year.