Students petition for 24 hour study space
February 25, 2010 8:00 AM
Four senior students are petitioning StFX to offer a 24 hour study space to accommodate those who want a quiet area in which to work after hours.
So far, the campaign includes an online petition and a hard copy that is circulated between classes. The initiative also hosts a Facebook group. At the time of print, it included 585 members.
Jillian Deighan, Lauren Beaton, Kaitlin Tulle and Samantha Yarwood undertook the initiative as part of a project for their Leading Change class with Dr Chris Galea. Deighan explains they felt strongly about the issue because of their own experiences.
“We are all late night workers and like to cram. StFX is one of few schools that don’t have a 24 hour study space. In the SUB, they started opening it to 1 a.m. The physical sciences building locks its doors at 11 p.m. We want somewhere that’s reliable,” she says.
Additionally, the Angus L. MacDonald Library operates from 8:15 a.m. to 12 a.m. on weekdays and reduces its hours on the weekend. Saturdays are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. while Sundays are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. However, Deighan worries that there are no alternatives to these spaces.
The hours of many favorite study spaces on campus are extended during exam times.
While some students report that they are permitted to stay later by custodians until they finish their shift at the physical sciences building, Deighan reminds that is choice is left up to their discretion.
“When you live in a house with lots of roomies, or an apartment building, you can’t really control what they’re doing. You also can’t find space in general in Antigonish [to study],” she says.
If the group has its choice, however, they would see hours extended at Bloomfield Centre.
“Our original thought was the SUB, simply because it’s easy to close off areas they don’t want us to have open. They already have study areas on the third and fourth floor… [So] our goal is the SUB, but we’re happy with any place they let us have,” admits Deighan, noting that when the Golden X Inn is open the building closes around 2 a.m.
While she reports that students have been overall supportive of an all-night study space, Deighan says some have raised concerns about providing security. Currently, Campus Police patrols do not last the entire night.
Organizers have been in contact with various members of the administration in order to lobby for a study space, including Vice President Recruitment and Student Experience Keith Publicover and Academic Vice President Mary McGillivray.
Deighan reports that university officials were “initially pessimistic” about an all-night study space because they have seen similar campaigns begin but then dwindle.
Organizers will soon meet with President Sandy MacIntosh and VP Campus Police Rory Campbell of the students’ union to discuss possibilities.
