A Student Government Association senator said Wednesday his caucus will no longer pursue extending Bracken Library's computer lab hours.
The at-large caucus, a mixed group of senators, has worked since November to keep the lab open 24 hours a day, caucus chairman Andrew Greider said. After Greider met with Dean of University Libraries Arthur Hafner, he said creating a study area in Bracken didn't make sense.
However, SGA president Ben Tietz said he doesn't want to drop the issue. Extending the lab's hours was part of Tietz's campaign platform.
Greider said he stopped his efforts because of points Hafner made.
Hafner said removing students from the lab in order to adjust the lab's gate is a hassle. When Bracken's lab was open until 2 a.m. in May, student use always dropped after midnight, Hafner said.
"All the headache to stay open two hours to service very few students doesn't seem worth it to me," Hafner said.
Hafner said students can use computers in Robert Bell after midnight.
Greider said Robert Bell's lab is not a comfortable place to study.
"Say a group wants to meet at 2 a.m. to study, they're forced to go off campus or to somebody's dorm to do it," Greider said.
Tietz said the library is the most convenient place for residents to do homework.
"Some people in Woodworth and DeHority can't get to their cars and have to walk all the way to (Robert Bell) at two in the morning, when they can easily walk to the library," Tietz said.
Tietz said he plans to work on the issue in April, when he sets up a meeting with Hafner.
"I'd like to get suggestions from him to see if the library is open to extending its hours at all," Tietz said.
Greider said replacing some computers with study tables in Robert Bell is a possibility. He said his caucus will also brainstorm different locations for a 24-hour study area.
Tietz said Hafner's "no" shouldn't end talk about the library's lab.
"I wouldn't let that be the end," Tietz said. "If the dean said no, there are other ways to try. We'll try different approaches."
Hafner said senators should petition to fix up Robert Bell instead.
"If that's the argument -- that the computer lab is crappy -- let's fix it up," Hafner said. "Let's get a senator to say, 'Let's make RB better.'"
Tietz said SGA hasn't discussed cleaning up Robert Bell.
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