By Emily GlazerThe Daily Northwestern
Next year students will be able to enjoy expanded library hours and additional campus shuttles thanks to requests proposed by the Undergraduate Budget Priorities Committee and approved by administrators.
Those were two of 10 requests, ranging from more late night food offerings to improved minority recruitment initiatives, proposed this year.
Beginning this fall, the University Library will open at 10 a.m. on Sundays, two hours earlier than its current schedule. With expanded library hours, administrators are considering keeping Plaza Cafe open past 11 p.m. also.
Jessica Wash, UBPC’s co-chairwoman, said she was pleased with the expansion of library hours.
“There was demand for more time,” the Weinberg junior said. “Especially on Sunday mornings.”
A letter from Provost Lawrence Dumas and Eugene Sunshine, NU’s senior vice president for business and finance, said the library’s Core Collection, first floor and Mediaworks will remain open until 3 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays beginning this fall.
The letter also said University Services will run one additional Purple Route bus beginning Fall Quarter as a “supplement to the existing Purple Route schedule.” It also noted a ” ‘message only’ voice mail box” that will notify passengers when shuttles are running behind schedule.
All 10 requests were put forth to a committee composed of senior administration members. UBPC is a student committee that polls students annually to determine priorities in campus improvements.
Though some requests were fully accomplished, others, such as sustainability and minority recruitment, were only partially resolved.
The administration agreed with UBPC’s ideas for improvement to minority recruitment. The document stated candidates for a new dean of undergraduate admissions will be considered based on “approach and outlook on minority recruitment.” While additional funds for Preview NU or Discover NU were not granted, NU is looking at the idea of a graduate assistant becoming a minority outreach assistant, according to the letter.
With regard to the UBPC’s request for more late night food options, the letter said the Undergraduate Housing Office is conducting pilot tests for late night dining at 1835 Hinman from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday and at Lisa’ s Cafe until 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.
Aneesa Arshad, Associated Student Government’s financial vice president, said ASG was pleased with the overall outcome of the requests.
“We’re happy about any improvements to student life and to the resources that are available,” the SESP junior said.
Wash expressed similar sentiments.
“We were pleased to see the university was committed to taking steps toward our larger goals,” she said. “(But) we were very realistic about the fact that they wouldn’t be able to commit to 100 percent of our requests.”
And, in fact, some major requests were denied.
Campus wireless and cell phone plans were put on hold until there are “more resolutions on these issues,” according to the document.
Sunshine said requests are denied for a variety of reasons.
“Sometimes you can’t give quite as complete a response as you might like to,” he said. “What categorizes them is that they are good ideas, but there is a need for further study, more thinking, more planning or we’re not quite ready yet.”
Renovations to the Mudd Science and Engineering Library and the ground floor of Norris University Center were denied, as were improvements to Blomquist Recreation Center.
Though not all requests were accepted, Sunshine said he was impressed with this year’s committee.
“They take their responsibility very seriously, do a lot of research and they present their work in a well-described way,” he said.
Reach Emily Glazer at [email protected].
