100 students? I went by there a couple times on Friday and I saw around 50 tops each time. Somehow I'm guessing that number came from the protesters.
The protesters are really, really getting on my nerves. There seems to be a lot of overlap between the people who protested against 18-story condos on University Boulevard (largely the original reason for the underground bus loop - to allow convenient retail for these towers near ground, from what I understand) and the people who protest the underground bus loop. Yes, financially an underground bus loop probably isn't a great idea. Why? Because you complained so much that UBC removed from the plan the condo towers that were essentially funding it!
Here's a good example of how crazy these people are:
http://www.sdsubc.ca/campaigns/free-...vdpamphlet.pdf
Quote:
At first, the University was determined to move the transit hub underground in
order to transform the centre of campus into a shopping mall. The original Uni-
versity Blvd development plan included 18 story condo towers, and since it was
necessary that the condo owners have amenities close by, plans placed stores at
the centre of campus. But all experts agreed that the transit hub ought to remain
at the centre of campus (where it was at the time). Therefore, the University
decided to divert tens of millions of dollars into moving the bus terminal under-
ground. WIth dollar signs in their eyes, they were of course blind to sustainabil-
ity issues.
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The administration proposed replacing mostly empty, useless, and ugly outdoor space (seriously, have you tried to sit down on the knoll during the 90% of the school year where it's too cold or too wet?) with quite dense residential and commercial space, and these students call them "blind to sustainability issues"? This puts to rest the notion that most NIMBYs are old and retired...
On a different note, I agree with mr. x2 - Irving Barber is fantastic. The main lobby or whatever it's called is gorgeously done, and there's tons of general purpose space (I was easily able to find a seat for studying around noon on a weekday! This is a first!). I don't have high hopes for the little café in it (it's run by UBC food services after all), but I'll give it a try sometime.