VANCOUVER – It has been revealed that the president of the University of British Columbia, Arvind Gupta, got $614,000 in upgrades to his on-campus home and a lease for a $37,000 hybrid vehicle.
The recent renovations to Norman MacKenzie House, the traditional home for UBC presidents, included $90,000 worth of upgrades to the sound system and new TV’s, along with the installation of an air-conditioning system, new carpets, plumbing repairs and more than $20,000 for new patio furniture.
The house is 6,400 sq feet, but half is a public space where official dinners are held. Visiting dignitaries from all over the world are also invited to the home.
John Metras, managing director of infrastructure and development, said the majority of the work was done to the public spaces.
“We upgraded our washroom facilities to provide accessible washrooms, we upgraded flooring that had become deteriorated and was a tripping hazard, we replaced the boiler that was in the building that was in need of replacement,” he said. “And we did upgrades to the IT systems and the AV systems that were in the building.”
He said the significant costs were around the boiler replacements and the washroom upgrades.
“The president is on duty, 24/7,” added Metras. “We have 45,000 students, both here and on our campus in Kelowna. We have students and researchers around the world. It’s important that he stay connected to the larger world.”
WATCH ABOVE: Take a tour of the president’s home.
Not everyone is happy about the upgrades however.
Steven Beasley, from the Canadian Federation of Students, said he thinks the renovations were a “ridiculous waste of student and taxpayer money.”
“Certainly this type of maintenance is not something that…is not a priority for the University of British Columbia. They service 40,000 plus students, they are providing education and research, these kinds of upgrades are not part of the educational mission. They are of no benefit to students.”
“It feels like a ridiculous waste of money given the kind of financial pressures that are facing universities because of years and years of cuts by this provincial government,” said Beasley. “If you go to college campuses and university campuses across the province you’ll see buildings that are literally falling apart around students and faculty.”
Metras said he thinks the upgrades were appropriate for the public use and for the president and his family, adding that the project came in under budget.
“It’s important for us as caretakers of a public asset to maintain it in proper condition,” he added. “We really only have the opportunity once every eight to ten years, when the presidency turns over at UBC, to get access to the facility to do upgrades and we try to do them all at once.”
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