Lights back on, 24/5 provided despite lacking resources

Beginning Dec. 6 through Dec. 15, the James Branch Cabell Library will reinstate the Library Lite All Nite 24/5 program for students during exams for the fall semester.

According to Student Government Association President Gabriel Walker the SGA went to students to see if there was a need for the program after Cabell officials suspended the 24/5 open door policy during a Sept. 18 Library Advisory Committee meeting to meet budget requirements.

“(The reinstatement of the Lite All Nite 24/5 program) is a direct result of students coming out and participating,” Walker said.

SGA members found students had a strong desire to see the program reinstated, which prompted a meeting with university librarian John Ulmschnieder Walker said.

During his meeting with Ulmschneider, Walker said he requested data including the amount of library attendees during the 24/5 program from previous years to support the reinstatement of the program.

Walker said he presented the information he received from Ulmschneider to the Office of the Provost, which proved to be enough for the provost to provide financial backing for the program’s reinstatement.

“A lot of the work was from (Walker) talking to Dr. Henry Rhone, (vice provost for Student Affairs & Enrollment Services),” said Student Government Association Vice President Roberto Celis.

Shortly after the provost agreed to financially support the 24/5 program, the issues with reinstating the program became logistical, according to Walker. Ulmschneider had already lost staff because of the budget cuts and now faced a problem of not having enough staff to uphold the 24/5 open door policy.

Walker said he told Ulmschneider students desperately needed the program during fall semester exams. Walker proceeded to get as many students to attend the Cabell Life Forum, Nov. 12, to voice their concerns to library officials.

“It was won on multiple fronts,” Celis said. “It seemed that students were going to stand together. Students kept on wanting (the Library Lite All Nite program) and showing their support.”

Walker said it was ultimately up to Ulmschneider to devise a plan in a two-week time period that would allow students to have the 24/5 program even with insufficient staff.

Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Student Affairs Reuban Rodriguez said the cooperation and work to reinstate the Lite All Nite 24/5 program will benefit students despite the serious budget situation.

“(The Lite All Nite 24/5 program) is something students have used for the past few years,” Rodriguez said. “The SGA working together with the VCU library to get the program back will be good for students.”

One thing Walker said he noticed since he began serving as SGA president was when students want something to happen for the university, they really have to push for that common goal.

Walker said he thinks the reinstatement of the 24/5 program is a good starting point for a continuing trend of student support.

Celis said the end result of reinstating the 24/5 program showed how much input students actually have regarding university policy.

“When students get behind an issue we have more power,” Celis said. “We can show that together that we have power and we can make changes that we want to happen on this university.”