The upstairs of University Bookstore on Cumberland Street is set for revolutionary change, with the OUSA Exec voting to adopt the “accommodation option” proposed by their Finance and Expenditure Committee.
Although much of the building’s development is shrouded by the cloud of “commercial sensitivity,” the “accommodation option” was adopted publicly at the Exec meeting on Monday 13 July. However, OUSA has declined to tell Critic what the “accommodation option” involves.
Much like the gestation period of a small, pregnant elephant, the project will take approximately 18 months to complete.
Last year, Critic outlined several ideas for the space, including a Vape Hub, a nap room and “put the Uni merch store there and then return the study space that were replaced/stolen from the main library with AskOtago.” Unfortunately, the student union continues not to simp for us and ignored our plans.
OUSA CEO Debbie Downs said a number of options were considered for the use of the building, but ultimately “the goal of the project is to protect the asset for future generations of students while making a commercial return to the Association in the short-medium term.”
Should the goal of OUSA projects be to make a commercial return? Must students’ lives revolve around capitalism? Did they ever consider the joy that a nap room or a cafe will bring students, regardless of cost? How may we measure the value of happiness?
“We have made the decision to pursue the option which we believe has the least risk, while still providing sound returns,” Debbie said.
Accommodation could mean a variety of things. It could be a youth hostel (which, let’s face it, is already the vibe of the Clubs and Socs building). It could be a motel, or a very sleazy hotel. An illegal boarding house, a brothel, an AirBnB room, an expensive glamping site. Or maybe, just maybe, the space will be turned into apartments that students will rent for free by entering an OUSA accommodation lottery.