Custom French presses and espresso machines among purchases
The Contrarion has obtained documents that reveal that the University of Guelph awarded a communications company $250,000 to redesign the administration’s mugs without taking competitive bids from other businesses per provincial rules.
Request For Proposal (RFP) regulations state that the University must allow bids for all new forms of work, including coffee container and paraphernalia designs. U of G gave out approximately $250,000 of coffee-related contracts to Tenzing Communications. The purchases include red and black gold-trimmed mugs intended for everyday use, along with replacements, espresso cups, latte bowls, cappuccino cups, French presses, and custom U of G steamers. The novelty mugs alone cost $50,000.
Fourth year theatre major Cynthia Parlett, voiced her frustration with the administration for the coffee controversy. “The administration thinks they can throw away taxpayer money on something this unnecessary while our class selection and funding gets smaller. It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth,” Parlett told The Contrarion, “like burnt coffee.”
The Contrarion’s source obtained emails that were sent between administrative directors, which detail the events surrounding the coffee mug controversy.
“I really love the idea of personalized novelty mugs, Vac,” wrote Don O’Leary, Vice-President (Finance, Administration, & Risk), to President Vaccarino. “We could use them in the office on Fridays.”
“Hell yeah, buddy,” President Vaccarino replied.
The Contrarion visited President Vaccarino’s office to ask for further comment.
“I can’t say anything about the investigation while it’s taking place, but what I will say is that we love our coffee here at the University of Guelph,” President Vaccarino told The Contrarion after sipping from a giant red and black novelty mug that read, “THE VAC.”
Phot by Alora Griffiths/The Ontarion