For the first time ever, the Student Union will be open 24/7, providing students with another location to study, congregate and take the occasional nap.
Historically, the building has closed every day at midnight, but that will change when the new hours commence with the start of the semester on Monday.
The change in hours of operation is a pilot program that has been discussed for several months, according to Maria Wallace, director of student services. She said students need more places to study and hang out on campus, and she believes the Student Union is the perfect place for that.
“What better time to ‘pilot’ the change other than the beginning of the semester?” Wallace said.
SA President Gunnar Haberl declined to comment, but said he plans to comment on Monday.
The SU typically extends its hours at the end of the semester to give students an additional study space to gear up for finals. Wallace said this ideology should be practiced throughout the entire semester instead of exclusively during finals week.
“Many buildings along the Academic Spine are open 24/7. [This will provide students with] more places to study, late night access for clubs and an attractive alternative for our students to meet and collaborate,” Wallace said.
While the building’s hours are being extended, no new jobs will be created for students, Wallace said. But, the building will still be patrolled by University Police despite an empty welcome desk.
The change in hours has already attracted the attention of students who’ve returned to campus.
Zhenfan Fang, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, said he normally avoids the student union due to how busy it gets during the day. He’s reconsidering where he’ll be studying in the fall after learning about the building’s new hours.
“Normally when I walk through the SU, there’s so many people for lunch or dinner. Most of the time if I try to find a table, I don’t have the best luck,” Fang said. “Now I might actually go to the SU. Sometimes the libraries are too busy so this will be nice.”
Amol Jadhav, a freshman civil engineering major said he predicts he'll be studying in the SU for a late night study spot.
“If someone wants a formal setting, they can go to the library. But if they want something informal they can go to SU. It’s the perfect place to study in my opinion,” Jadhav said. “As a freshman I think it’ll be a nice place to meet new people on top of serving as a place to come and study.
Wallace did not comment whether or not the building will stay open 24/7 during the spring semester too. If this “pilot program” goes well, the SU might rival the campus libraries’ popularity for late night studying.
Max Kalnitz is the senior news editor and can be reached at max.kalnitz@ubspectrum.com
