Editorial: New MUC hours poses problem for students

The Muenster University Center (MUC) and the I.D. Weeks Library have both changed their hours of operation for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Last year, during weekdays, the MUC and the I.D. Weeks Library closed at 2 a.m. This year, they will both close at midnight.

While the decision was ultimately made out of concern for student workers and the late hours they would have to work, the change in hours in both the MUC and I.D. Weeks Library is inconvenient for the whole student body.

This year, the university has seen it’s biggest freshman class in years, and, with that, unfortunately comes overflow.

With the change in MUC and library hours, where will students – who have no quiet spaces to themselves – study and do homework? Both the MUC and library are big places for students to study and do their homework, and, if students need to study late somewhere other than their rooms, they will be unable to do so.

This may also become an inconvenience for other on or off-campus employees who need a space to study while they still have the opportunity, or for study groups that may meet to study for upcoming exams, or do their homework together.

The change in operation hours also raises somewhat of a safety issue on campus. If at any point, students need to walk across campus in the middle of the night, they will be unable to cut through the MUC or the library.

The I.D. Weeks Library will remain open until 2 a.m. the week before, as well as the week of finals for the fall and spring semesters.

While it is great that students will have that opportunity for two weeks during finals, it could also raise another problem. The MUC is a hot-spot for studying during finals week and the weeks leading up to it.

If the MUC is not remaining open like the library is, the library may become extremely overflowed. If there are no places to study in the library at night, and students do not have the option to study in their rooms or floor lounges, some students may be out of options regarding places to study.

While concerns about student workers have been raised and heard, the change in hours of operation for the MUC and the I.D. Weeks Library is starting to seem more like an inconvenience to the rest of the students than a positive change.