Brandon Carroll

Senate Sponsor: Melissa Yates

House Sponsor: Thomas Hogdahl                   

 

Resolution Supporting the Designation of

 Torgersen Hall as a 24 Hour Study Facility

 

Whereas, a Library Hours survey conducted in the Spring of 2008, taken by 1729 students, reported 90% of students study between 5PM and 12AM, with 54% of students continuing to study in the hours from 12AM and 6AM, and

 

Whereas, Virginia Tech does not have any on-campus study facilities that are designated for all students open past 12:00 AM Sunday-Thursday or past 8 PM on Friday and Saturday night, and

 

Whereas, the study lounges in some dorms do not have internet access, and

 

Whereas, almost 30% of the student body lives on-campus (9,100 of 30,380 in fall 2008)[1] 2 and therefore does not have reliable and practical transportation to the Math Emporium (currently the only designated study facility for all students open 24/7) after Blacksburg Transit routes close, and

 

Whereas, the same Library Hours survey reported 63% of students indicated disappointment in the current hours held by the study facilities on campus (i.e. the library), and

 

Whereas, 50% of students noted they study the majority of the time in their bedroom/dorm room, and 76% of students indicated the fact that they would utilize a study facility with more accessible hours, and

 

Whereas, the Newman Library staff have said their current budget does not support extended hours, and

 

Whereas, Torgersen Hall is already used by many students between the hours of 9PM and 5AM for studying, and

 

Whereas, Torgersen is a large enough facility to offer many students the ability to have quiet study in several lecture halls, computer labs, sitting areas, and group study tables, and

 

Whereas, officially designating  Torgersen Hall as a 24 hour study facility will require minimal supervision and related additional security costs, and

 

Whereas, the building can be patrolled and secured throughout the night by VTPD Officers stationed nearby, and

 

Therefore;

 

Be it resolved, the Virginia Tech Student Government Association, in representing the Undergraduate Student Body of Virginia Tech, supports officially designating Torgerson Hall, excluding Torgersen Bridge, as a 24 hour on-campus study facility complete with all necessary security precautions.

 

Be it further resolved, the Virginia Tech Student Government Association offers an undergraduate student representative to serve on a committee charged with planning the logistics of opening Torgersen Hall as a 24/7 study facility.

[1] http://www.studentprograms.vt.edu/housing/

2 http://www.ir.vt.edu/VT_Stats/demographics_contents.htm#DG4b