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A word from your local ASG 10/21

Max Brown
The Commuter

Thursday, October 22, 2009

ASG President Nic Bowman

Coffee – a staple in many college students’ diets. Offered in countless varieties of roast, flavoring and concentration, coffee can be even more than a staple – it can be a lifeline. Typically, though, the modern-day coffee house is much more than a destination for a hot cup of joe. It is very common to find a wide variety of drinks and refreshments on coffee house menus. In addition to diversified drink selections, successful coffee houses often provide a soothing atmospheric experience for their patrons. The Hot Shot coffee house is LBCC’s very own stop on that blissful java-junket. The Hot Shot coffee house is a student owned, operated and managed business on campus. Working at the Hot Shot can be a great opportunity for students to gain the valuable work experience needed to gain an edge within a competitive workforce. Current coffee house manager Andrew Bowder has had several open offers for employment over the course of his tenure. Andrew has been very dedicated to his position, and it shows. His success as a manager has driven the coffee house to a positive first few weeks of term. Students, staff and faculty have been swarming into the Hot Shot in great numbers already this term, and Andrew predicts that it’s only going to get busier as colder weather moves in on the campus. Just as any other business, though, the Hot Shot is not immune to its own fair share of challenges.

One problem with this particular business structure is that funding for staffing is paid almost entirely through federal work-study (FWS) dollars. The only exception to this is a management position paid through a talent grant. Both of these funds are fixed amounts. What this means is that, as minimum wage goes up, the fewer working-hours there are available to each FWS position. And as tuition goes up, some talent grants may be reviewed for “necessity” during budgetary cuts. This is applicable to all FWS’s or talent grants across campus. Additionally, these fixed amounts also mean that there isn’t a working mechanism to allow for growth within the business. In short, the coffee house is facing the challenge of keeping up with the growth of the demand. With a shortage of staff, the Hot Shot is forced to close at noon every day. These limited hours of operation fall short of the customer traffic flow.

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, I will be presenting the ASG with a request for funding for an additional talent grant position. I mention this proposal because a portion of ASG’s budget is generated from student activity fees – fees that are attached to every credit at LBCC. Students should know where their money is going; they should also have a say in the matter if they disagree.

Lastly, I would like to mention that there is still one FWS position available at the Hot Shot. Too many FWS positions go unclaimed each term. If you qualify for FWS, please stop by and check it out.

Nic Bowman
ASG President

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