Gerts Coat Check Question -Matthew Eidinger

I know that this is a VP finance related question, but I would like your opinion as a presidential candidate.
During the past year there have been significant changes in the management of Gerts Bar. Specifically there have been changes to the conditions that student groups have to comply with when they book an event at the bar. There is now a 50% cost that must be given to Gerts for Cover as well as coat check. Previously, there was no such cost associated with booking events at Gerts, aside from the booking fee that is waived at 1500$ in sales at the bar.
I have heard of two reasons for this policy. First, is to pay for the deficit that Gerts/SSMU holds. Second is because Gerts employees can staff cover/coat check with their own staff, thereby taking in the entire 100% of the fees. It is unclear to me, however, what the truth actually is.
Speaking as the president of one of the largest departmental student associations at McGill – which has hosted events at Gerts both prior to this policy and after its implementation – I believe I speak for all student groups when I say that this policy significantly hampers our ability to donate money to charities. I have even heard of campus groups considering alternative venues because of this policy in recent months. Considering the fact that a significant number of student events held at Gerts are charity oriented and depend almost exclusively on cover fee/coat check for revenue to be donated to whatever charity is chosen, this policy is damaging.
Further, it should be considered that whenever an event is held at Gerts by a student group, the event is widely promoted during the weeks leading up to the event. Methods include, posters, listserv announcements and class announcements. Essentially promoting a student association event, in this case, is also promoting Gerts itself. Consequently, more people show up, which leads to increased revenue for Gerts and SSMU.
I want to know:
1) Why this policy was instituted in the first place.
2) What you will do change it, considering the adverse effects it has had on student events held at Gerts.

1) I was not involved on the decision to make this policy, however I understand the policy as being instated in part to make the process more fair. I was able to find out that one factor was that coat check and admission used to be charged separately, but now the two fees are grouped together. Another factor was that on a case by case basis, it was decided how much those working coat check would be able to receive for their charity. You also mention a valid point regarding they could staff it themselves. Gerts attempts to break even, not make a profit, and that is one of the reasons why the drinks are so affordable and Gerts is as popular as it is. When Gerts decided to combine the admission and coat check, they realized they had to capture some of that revenue to keep the prices where they are. If you need any clarification on any of this you can contact me or comment here and let me know. 

Also, there are two ways groups can still make 100% of the admissions revenue. First, all pre-sale tickets go directly to the event organizers. Second, if you hold your event on a Saturday or Sunday, the organizers receive the total admissions revenue as well. 

2) Seeing as it makes the system more fair is an important factor that allows for the drinks to be as affordable as they are, and there are still two very realistic ways for a group to make 100% of the admissions revenue, do you still think it should be changed? Let me know your thoughts.