The Bistro receives $25,000 in debt relief from ASWU Senate
Management states this will be the final time the Bistro seeks ASWU relief
The Associated Students of Willamette University (ASWU) senate voted unanimously to relieve the Bistro’s debt of $25,275.39 on Oct. 22.
This is not the first time that the Bistro has sought financial support from the ASWU senate, but it will be the last, according to Bistro management. Last year the senate provided roughly $20,000, and with it created an accountability plan, with the Bistro.
ASWU Treasurer Peyton Edwards (’29) explained that within the details of the plan, the Bistro agreed to present its finances to the senate in order to receive financial support, which led to the Bistro’s presentation at the Oct. 22 meeting.
The Bistro has faced multiple challenges that have caused a deficit in past years, including the effects of the COVID pandemic on small businesses, rising business expenses and maintenance costs, shared Maddie Schelling (’27), the general manager of the Bistro.
Prior to the ASWU meeting Schelling explained the new steps the Bistro had taken in order to make a profit this year. These changes include partnering with Bon Appetit, accepting Flex Dollars which replaced the loss of Compass Cash in 2022 and making better calculations for profit margins. Additional progress was made by cutting ingredient costs by changing suppliers, such as the new coffee supplier Cafe Umbria.
The Bistro now receives professional advice on running a small business through their partnership with Bon Appetit. But the Bistro still aims to be a cheaper and more accessible option for students on campus. “We do this for students, we are students ourselves,” Schelling said.
The presentation by Schelling at the ASWU meeting consisted of the reasons for the Bistro’s past deficits as well as the improvements that have been made to “make a profit for the first time in a decade.” Schelling presented the benefits that the school receives in having a space such as the Bistro, as the Bistro provides employment opportunities, a community space for students and events and quality goods in food and beverages.
Schelling proposed that the ASWU senate utilize the ASWU Reserve to provide financial relief for the debt accrued by the Bistro last school year. She stated that with profit currently being made the Bistro would not need to seek financial support from ASWU in the future. Additionally, if any future debt would be incurred, the Bistro would look directly to Willamette for support instead of ASWU. When questioned by the senators on the details of this change, Schelling said it was still being fully detailed out.
“This will be the last time that the Bistro turns to ASWU for financial assistance,” Schelling said at the meeting.
When the motion to clear debt was brought before the senate, all members voted unanimously to relieve the Bistro debt.
ASWU President Katelyn Beissel Rosales (’28) highlighted that ASWU and the Bistro work well together and have a positive mutually beneficial relationship, indicating it was an important space for Willamette and its students. The Bistro has been “a staple for Willamette students for decades … We love the Bistro as much as the other students,” Beissel Rosales said.
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