Final exams for the winter quarter are about to get underway at UC San Diego, a period that’s so stressful that students traditionally get together and let out a collective scream to cope with it all.
That’s not going away. But this year, there’s also some happy chatter. The university has acceded to student demands to restore 24-hour weekday access to Geisel Library, the heart of a school where most students are studying science, engineering, technology or medicine.
It was pushed by Associated Students, which represents the school’s 35,442 undergraduates — the largest number of undergrads in the University of California system.
“We appreciate the partnership and dialogue with Associated Students and campus leadership that made this change possible, and are grateful to Chancellor Khosla for ensuring we have the resources needed to deliver this service,” the library said in a statement.
The new 24-hour access will begin in the spring quarter.
Campus officials did away with 24-hour service two years ago to deal with budget cuts. Students have pressured them ever since to overturn the decision as it applies to the library’s second floor, a focal point of last-minute group cram sessions during finals.
The second floor is also known as a place to see and be seen. Or, as political science major Kaleb Truchan put it Tuesday, “It’s where you go to mingle — wink, wink, nudge, nudge.”
Truchan worked with William Simpson, president of Associated Students, to push the administration to change its position. Their lobbying involved publicizing a survey of 1,200 students, roughly 98% of whom said they want 24-hour access. This helped convince the administration to shift to their side, elating students, especially Simpson.
“So many students come here to study, especially before their midterms and finals,” said Simpson, who is majoring in economics. “They don’t want to be in their dorm rooms where you could have two or even three roommates who could be keeping you up, distracting you, or you’re keeping them awake with your lecture recordings.
“You need to lock in and get things done, which you can do at Geisel.”
Truhan agreed, adding, “I didn’t feel safe in my dorm room last year. And it was really loud. It’s different at Geisel. It’s a place where a lot of people are struggling during exams and you can struggle together. You can improve yourself.
“What the university is saying by going back to 24-hour access on the second floor is that they will be there for us any time of the day or night.”