The Omicron outbreak has hit Otago Uni’s cafés and food outlets hard. A one-two punch of fewer students on campus and staff shortages have led to financial losses and rolling closures of outlets.
The University Union is like the Pablo Escobar of Dunedin’s campus – gives students the goods, rakes in the dough. Owned by the Uni, they run every retail outlet on campus, from Frankly Sandwiches to the Staff Club to the gift shop in St Dave’s. They feed most halls, as well as running and catering most Uni events. With the lone, brave exception of Chatime, this is the University Union’s world, and we’re just living in it.
This money tap, supported by time-limited staff and caffeine-fixing students, has recently been hit hard. The rapid spread of Omicron through the student community has not spared the Union’s team of baristas and sandwich artists, many of whom are students. This has forced rolling closures of the Union’s network of shops. One student employee said that they’ve “had to shuffle staff between our stores, cafés and helping deliver packages to isolating freshers”.
In addition, with the Omicron outbreak shifting most learning online and a large chunk of students and staff either isolating or working from home, those who report for duty seem to find themselves twiddling their thumbs, with little to do except watch the few students on campus hurry past.
The Uni’s Campus and Collegiate Life Services Director, James Lindsay, confirmed this, telling Critic Te Arohi that “The Omicron outbreak, coupled with a move to online learning, has seen fewer students and staff on campus, so our cafes and shops are quieter than normal. This semester we have also been deploying staff where necessary and have had some staff away with non-Covid-related sickness.”
While saying there may be “some effect on our bottom line, depending how long it takes us to get through this Omicron wave,” James was confident this wouldn’t spell ruin for the Union: “The University Union has diversified revenue streams and a large part of the operation is catering to almost 2600 students across the University colleges. This part of the business is very busy at the moment.” If they’re looking to plug budget shortfalls, Critic suggests the University Union opens a student bar, which is surely a responsible and risk-free venture.