Beginning in the fall 2013 semester, Kilachand Hall — previously known as Shelton Hall — will no longer have a 24-hour study space available to all BU students, officials said.
To compensate for the loss of a 24-hour community study space first opened in Shelton in September 2012, BU officials are currently renovating the existing study lounge at Myles Standish Hall, said BU spokesman Colin Riley.
Student Government spokesman Saurabh Mahajan said this new study spaces will be available for community use, as students will not have to sign into the building for access.
“This [new study space] is a good option for students living [off campus],” Mahajan, a College of Arts and Sciences sophomore, said. “After Shelton Hall was renovated and the 24-hour [community] study space got moved, they [BU officials] decided to transfer it [the study space] over to East Campus to make it a good late-night option.”
Mahajan said SG officials have heard some demand from students for more 24-hour study spaces by students living off campus. However, he said the outcry has been minimal.
“If it comes up that [off-campus] students really need this [extra study space], then we will absolutely advocate for it,” Mahajan said. “We just have not heard that kind of need yet.”
Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life David Zamojski said in an email that the existing study space at 575 Commonwealth Ave. has also been converted into a 24-hour study space and is currently open. The new space at Myles Standish Hall is under renovation and should be completed within the next two weeks.
“We certainly have students who like to study past the library’s closing time, so it’s helpful to have space available around-the-clock for studying,” Zamojski said.
Over the years, Riley said he has heard several requests for Mugar Memorial Library to stay open later or to be open all hours of the day. However, he said now, with the two newly renovated study locations, changing Mugar’s existing timeframe is unnecessary.
“Making [Mugar] 24/7 was found to be too expensive,” Riley said. “There are so many spaces on campus for students, including their homes, to study — so, the demand is not something that makes good sense in their regard.”
Kate Henchy, a School of Management senior, said one of the biggest downfalls of living off campus is being unable to take advantage of study spaces on campus. As a result, she said she would make use of the new 24-hour community study spaces if they became available.
“A lot of the times I will do my studying in SMG [School of Management] or in the GSU [George Sherman Union], but it does get really crowded,” Henchy said. “Even if they weren’t 24-hour, I think having more study spaces where I didn’t have to get signed in on West Campus would be helpful.”
Katie Rangel, a CAS sophomore, said since she lives on South Campus, she would like to see more 24-hour study spaces on Central Campus or on West Campus.
“I particularly feel that [24-hour study spaces] are very helpful for someone like me because I sometimes will be up [studying] until 4 a.m. or 5 a.m.,” Rangel said. “It would be helpful to have an extra study space closer to me on campus instead of just my apartment where I could be disruptive to my roommate.”
Richard Carroll, a CAS junior, said he would particularly appreciate an extra study space in West Campus, rather than East Campus, as he lives in an off-campus apartment in Allston.
“If I wanted to study on campus, I would have to get signed into either Rich Hall or StuVi [Student Village],” Carroll said. “Mugar is pretty far from where I live … so if I could get into somewhere around West Campus, that would be optimal.”