A long-standing policy concerning the nighttime accessibility of the student center offices in the Campus Center has come under scrutiny due to stricter enforcement in recent weeks. The policy states that unauthorized students are not allowed in the offices after 1 a.m.
On Oct. 19 at about 12:30 a.m., Shadi Al Hindi, an exercise and health sciences major and USG director of creative programming, along with about five other students were allegedly asked to leave by school security officials due to the late hour. The students who were involved in the incident claim to have been engaged in quiet study before they were asked to vacate the building.
Shelby Harris, director of Student Activities and Leadership, explained that the 3400 section of the student center opens at 8:30 a.m. and is closed by 6 p.m. while all other doors at the student center are generally locked at 9 p.m.
This policy seems to be in effect due to the sensitive nature of documents that are in these offices, which are not all locked and the liability issues are of concern. She feels it is sensible that students shouldn’t be allowed in the building too late, because UMB is not a 24-hour campus. Therefore, students do not have the right to remain in the student center after hours.
Harris also stated that different key passes are handed out to students, depending on the position of the students. Unlimited passes are given to The Mass Media editor and the president of the USG due to the nature of their work. There are also 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. passes and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. passes which are given to certain members of clubs which have offices located in the Campus Center.
“While we try to give students as much leeway as possible,” Harris said, “there are policies and procedures that must be adhered to.”
Richard Lee, Assistant Director of Public Policy, stated that enforcement has been increased to secure the buildings further, to make sure crimes are prevented.
Students who might be affected directly by this are the members of clubs who spend the most time in the offices. One of those students, Ezra Betesh, an economics major, believes the rule must have been placed for a valid reason.
“Whatever the reason is, whether to save electricity or for cleaning or for security purposes,” Betesh said, “it’s the school’s property and they have the right to do that.”
He believes that because the office spaces aren’t dorms, kids should be going home at night. He went on to say, “During finals however, these places should be left open as much as possible.”
Al Hindi brought the issue up at the USG general meeting on the Oct. 26. He believes that, apart from the rule being a bit unjust, depending on perspective, it seems like a harbinger of a bigger underlying issue-the issue of the administration having complete control over all decisions that affect students.
Al Hindi said, “I feel like the administration has a good point, but there are students who need to get work done and live far away. The administration should communicate more efficiently or students will be losing access to facilities and services.”