Fat bald man wins Distinguished Alumni award
With Halloween-themed condoms, lacy bras in various sizes, more than one 8-inch dildo lollipop and 25 years of entertainment paraphernalia scattered throughout John b. Young's office, you would think the 8x10 cluttered space belonged to a college freshman.
Instead, John b.Young has been serving Fanshawe's Student Union for almost 25 years as Entertainment Programmer and now as the Operations Manager of the FSU.
Young was one of six people honoured with the Distinguished Alumni Award at the 2005 Fanshawe College Homecoming last weekend, an award that his wife, long-time news broadcaster Kate won in 2000.
“I have to credit the Student Union… the college offers the most varied entertainment programs of all colleges and universities,” Young said about the diversity of entertainment the college has showcased throughout the last three decades.
The annual award is given to Fanshawe College alumna who have used their skills and knowledge acquired at the school to improve themselves, their career, their chosen field and their world. Young just happened to use his skills and knowledge towards his alma mater.
“John has been the key to student life at Fanshawe College. It has been his vision that has created what the student union is today,” said FSU President Melissa Smart.
Young's ties with the Student Union began before he even graduated in 1976 with a Creative Electronics diploma, now known as Music Industry Arts. During his three years as a student, Young served as Entertainment VP and President of the Student Union.
After graduation, Young spent several years as an entertainment agent in the London area, booking acts for high schools and campuses around Ontario. But in 1981, Young found himself back at Fanshawe as Entertainment Programmer after the school built the Student Union Building (SUB).
“I oversaw one night a week pubs on Thursdays,” Young said about his job back in 1981. “There would be a line—up from [Forwell Hall] past the bookstore, past what is now Tim Hortons and down to the other caf.”
Young also started the nooner tradition every other Tuesday, where comics, musicians and lecturers entertained students for free over their lunch break.
“One of my best buys was a comic named Jim Carrey,” Young recollected. “He cost $425- there was no GST then.”
In the early 1990's Young and the Student Union began developing a bar/restaurant concept, which would later evolve into the Out Back Shack. By 1995 the student union proved they were responsible enough to hold their own liquor license, which to this day Young is still responsible for.
“It wasn't just about the booze,” Young said about the Out Back Shack, which credits almost half its sales to food. “We spent a lot of money to have a proper kitchen to have good food out quickly.”
Young and the Student Union saw the need for more space for students to eat, lounge and study in 2001 and proposed a design to build a new student centre.
The seven million dollar building took only four years to materialize from concept to the opening date in September 2004, which is a huge feat considering other post secondary student centres have taken up to ten years just to build.
“I applaud the college on being proactive and trusting the student union every step of the way,” said Young. “It's an amazing accomplishment for the amount of time.”
When asked what his favorite memory of Fanshawe has been over the last 25 years, Young said that would be like choosing your favorite child.
“Once you produce so many events, the artists mean a lot, but it‘s the crowd that means the most,” added Young. “It's a real rush to see 1,200 students rock to Sam Roberts.”
It's not the new buildings, the dramatic esthetic changes or big name rock stars Young take pride in, but rather the over one thousand diverse acts he has brought to the school over the last 25 years.
“We do a speaker and then Ron Jeremy. We show no bias and we push the envelope. A prime example is sex toy bingo. Students can take a joke in the spirit of fun and it's legal.”
Although he has handed the entertainment torch down to the current Entertainment Programmer Mark Rawson, it's not a rare occurrence to see Young in Forwell Hall right alongside the Fanshawe freshmen during a concert. And with a glance into Young's office it's plain to see the entertainment industry will always be in his blood.
Instead, John b.Young has been serving Fanshawe's Student Union for almost 25 years as Entertainment Programmer and now as the Operations Manager of the FSU.
Young was one of six people honoured with the Distinguished Alumni Award at the 2005 Fanshawe College Homecoming last weekend, an award that his wife, long-time news broadcaster Kate won in 2000.
“I have to credit the Student Union… the college offers the most varied entertainment programs of all colleges and universities,” Young said about the diversity of entertainment the college has showcased throughout the last three decades.
The annual award is given to Fanshawe College alumna who have used their skills and knowledge acquired at the school to improve themselves, their career, their chosen field and their world. Young just happened to use his skills and knowledge towards his alma mater.
“John has been the key to student life at Fanshawe College. It has been his vision that has created what the student union is today,” said FSU President Melissa Smart.
Young's ties with the Student Union began before he even graduated in 1976 with a Creative Electronics diploma, now known as Music Industry Arts. During his three years as a student, Young served as Entertainment VP and President of the Student Union.
After graduation, Young spent several years as an entertainment agent in the London area, booking acts for high schools and campuses around Ontario. But in 1981, Young found himself back at Fanshawe as Entertainment Programmer after the school built the Student Union Building (SUB).
“I oversaw one night a week pubs on Thursdays,” Young said about his job back in 1981. “There would be a line—up from [Forwell Hall] past the bookstore, past what is now Tim Hortons and down to the other caf.”
Young also started the nooner tradition every other Tuesday, where comics, musicians and lecturers entertained students for free over their lunch break.
“One of my best buys was a comic named Jim Carrey,” Young recollected. “He cost $425- there was no GST then.”
In the early 1990's Young and the Student Union began developing a bar/restaurant concept, which would later evolve into the Out Back Shack. By 1995 the student union proved they were responsible enough to hold their own liquor license, which to this day Young is still responsible for.
“It wasn't just about the booze,” Young said about the Out Back Shack, which credits almost half its sales to food. “We spent a lot of money to have a proper kitchen to have good food out quickly.”
Young and the Student Union saw the need for more space for students to eat, lounge and study in 2001 and proposed a design to build a new student centre.
The seven million dollar building took only four years to materialize from concept to the opening date in September 2004, which is a huge feat considering other post secondary student centres have taken up to ten years just to build.
“I applaud the college on being proactive and trusting the student union every step of the way,” said Young. “It's an amazing accomplishment for the amount of time.”
When asked what his favorite memory of Fanshawe has been over the last 25 years, Young said that would be like choosing your favorite child.
“Once you produce so many events, the artists mean a lot, but it‘s the crowd that means the most,” added Young. “It's a real rush to see 1,200 students rock to Sam Roberts.”
It's not the new buildings, the dramatic esthetic changes or big name rock stars Young take pride in, but rather the over one thousand diverse acts he has brought to the school over the last 25 years.
“We do a speaker and then Ron Jeremy. We show no bias and we push the envelope. A prime example is sex toy bingo. Students can take a joke in the spirit of fun and it's legal.”
Although he has handed the entertainment torch down to the current Entertainment Programmer Mark Rawson, it's not a rare occurrence to see Young in Forwell Hall right alongside the Fanshawe freshmen during a concert. And with a glance into Young's office it's plain to see the entertainment industry will always be in his blood.
