by The Cowl Editor on March 3, 2017
News
by Patrick Healey ’17
News Staff
The scramble to find a place to study during busy nights in the library, or particularly when finals week is in full force, can be a frustrating and tedious way to start out an evening of work.
Something even the most seasoned seniors may not know is the specific closing times of the various buildings and places to study on campus. When the library is full and Slavin is filled with people bustling about, students often turn to classrooms in campus buildings to use as their studying base.
During the often late hours that students spend working, it is important to know exactly what time each building is open to avoid being sent back home, having wasted precious studying time.
Each building on campus closes at a specific time, sometimes depending on the day of the week, according to what kind of resources the building has and what its main usage is. Major John Leyden, head of security at Providence College, noted that there are many buildings on campus that “contain offices which are secured at 9 p.m.”
When asked why all buildings do not close at the same time, he replied, “We want to allow safe spaces on campus to accommodate students.”
Major Leyden also explained that buildings containing classrooms are closed at 11 p.m., so students who wish to study into the morning hours should avoid settling down at places such as The Feinstein Institute for Public Service and Accino Hall. The Ruane Center for the Humanities is an exception, though. A few years ago Student Congress was able to change the hours of operation of Ruane to match those of the library.
One of the most popular studying spots, the library, has varying hours. Monday through Thursday, the library is open from 8 a.m. until 2 a.m., Friday from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 2 a.m.
These hours change occasionally during holidays and finals week, when there is a higher demand for the resources the library provides. Slavin Center, on the other hand, is the one building on campus that is open 24 hours in order to provide students with a place to go no matter the day or the hour.
The Arthur F. and Patricia Ryan Center for Business Studies has added more confusion to the issue of when certain buildings close on campus, and many students are wondering whether or not the new building will be an area where they can study late into the night.
As of now, officers are closing the Ryan Center at midnight on Sunday through Thursday, and at 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. These hours, however, are still under discussion and seem to be considered temporary until further notice. It seems some students like the idea of the Ryan Center having extended hours of operation. Haley Smith ’17 said, “It’s fun studying there late at night because of how open it feels.”
Major Leyden cited safety, usage, and access parameters as the reasons for how late a building does or does not stay open. Both the library and Slavin are the only buildings for now that will be available for students to use no matter what time they choose to go during finals.
Overall, there are many buildings on campus with individualized hours of operation, that can be difficult to remember. It is advised that all students note that the Ryan Center’s hours of operation are not yet set in stone and still being considered.