FINALS are hell. They test a student's will, determination and perseverance, as well as a student's knowledge of course material. Because of the stress students feel during finals, the University has the obligation to make this time of the year as simple and stress-free as possible during non-exam hours. While some productive changes have been made, room for improvement exists that would show dedication to University students.
More than anything else, the University's facilities need to extend their hours to meet student's changed needs. Because of the nature of Saturday finals, days of the week lose all meaning to students. While many excellent changes have been made, the dining hall facilities, the library system and UTS could go a bit further in providing convenient hours for students.
The library system has the most vital role in changing its schedule for final exams. Clemons Library does not close during Finals week and other libraries extend their hours variously. Though Clemons may be open all the time during finals week, the other libraries should at least operate at their normal Monday to Thursday hours on Friday to Sunday. The other libraries often do not extend their hours to earlier in the morning. Director of Communications for the Library system Charlotte Morford, the libraries use several means to determine library hours, including student surveys, a student advisory committee and various studies.
However, these factors do not fully account for the change in demand during the week of final exams. For example, Clark Library does not open until 10 a.m. on the Saturday and Sunday of final exams. On these same two days, the Biology Library in Gilmer Hall does not open until 1 p.m. If students have a one p.m. exam in either building on a Saturday, they may want to study for the exam early in the morning in the same building. Last semester, I recall seeing at least 50 people outside of Clark library, waiting for it to open on the Saturday morning of finals. When it finally did, it resembled a mall on Black Friday with students rushing to their favorite studying locations. This scene shows that demand exists for earlier library hours.
University dining facilities also make changes, but again, more could easily be done to give students more conveniences. Currently, according to the marketing program manager of University Dining Elizabeth Thompson, the dining halls open at 7 a.m. the days of finals and Pavilion XI has a limited menu extended until 11 p.m. on the Friday and Saturday of finals.Newcomb dining hall remains closed on Friday and Saturday nights and the Pavilion remains closed on Sunday. The C3 store at Newcomb also maintains its normal hours, which are irregular at best.
Three of the most popular libraries for undergraduates, Clemons, Alderman and Clark libraries, lie in close vicinity to Newcomb Hall. Students studying at these libraries often choose to eat at the dining hall facilities at Newcomb. It is frustrating, then, to be forced with either limited selection at the Pavilion or with the walk to Crossroads or O-Hill for better selection. If the University can secure bus drivers until 3 a.m. every Friday and Saturday night, it should not be difficult to further extend the hours of Newcomb, the Pavilion and C3.
The University Transit Service makes a series of changes, according to Director of Parking and Transportation Rebecca White. Among these include extended night service until two a.m. the nights before exams, regular service on the Saturday of finals, and additional buses before and after scheduled exams. Even changes as extensive as these could use improvement. For example, UTS does not begin running until noon on the Sunday of finals week. Though there are no scheduled exams, many students will begin studying for the rest of their finals before noon without the convenience of UTS.
These changes could be easily implemented if the University facilities understood the student demand at the irregular hours. Unfortunately, any planning that would be required usually is not even thought about until finals week arrives. However, if students use appropriate means to contact each facility, then perhaps changes would be possible. All the relevant information for these facilities can be found online and easily contacted through email.
Final exams can wear down students like nothing else students encounter during a semester. When students feel mentally exhausted, the last thing they want to try to figure out is if the dining hall is open. Let's, as the dining halls advertise, "keep it simple," and open up the University facilities to the most convenient hours possible during final examinations.
Rajesh Jain is a Cavalier Daily associate editor. He can be reached at rjain@cavalierdaily.com.
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