New hours at Brochstein Pavilion disappointing

By Staff Editorial     9/9/10 7:00pm

It's 9 p.m. on Thursday night, and if you are like many Rice students, you have a problem set due tomorrow and are just about ready to sit down to take a look at it. As you walk toward the lonely confines of Fondren Library for the rest of the night, the overwhelming need for a cup of coffee hijacks your mind. But before you head over to Brochstein Pavilion to prepare for your night in the stacks, be forewarned that the administration is no longer interested in catering to your needs.We at the Thresher, along with much of the student body, were shocked to learn that with the start of the new semester came dramatic cuts in the operating hours of a commonly used study and meeting area (see story, page 4). But the decision to reduce hours does more than give Coffeehouse larger profits in late-night hours.

The students have been turned into side notes, second to potential campus visitors. The administration's desire to cling onto the unrealistic, disconnected image of Brochstein as a table-service bistro with food and wine is presented with complete disregard to the desires of the students, which have been conveyed since before the building was even constructed.

Referring to potential extension of business hours around exam periods, Housing and Dining Project Manager Carol Claverie said, "That's when students want more coffee space. We plan to get the Student Association and [Graduate Student Association]'s input so that we can see what the student demand is for study space."

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The Thresher sees this as nothing more than an attempt to exhibit student involvement where, in fact, there is none. It is symptomatic of a general disconnect between the administration and students on this issue, a fact that administrators should take into account, particularly amid the current tensions between students and administrators.

Moreso, the article states that administrators believe it to be conceivable that the building's hours can be extended beyond Salento's work hours. We at the Thresher then ask, "If it is possible, why has it not been done?" It seems like this sentiment is either meant to placate the students and push the issue off to a later date or is a signal that poor planning has marred this transition.

In any case, the reduced hours additionally cast doubts on the administration's stated vision for the space as a nice spot to have a glass of wine. Aside from the occasional faculty or staff member who finds it appropriate to drink alcohol in the middle of his workday, the market for wine is drastically limited when the doors shut at 7 p.m. on weekdays and 5 p.m. on weekends.

Who then are we to believe is benefiting from this new arrangement? If not the students and not the faculty, are we to believe that the occasional need to show off a hip wine bar to unknown visitors merits the implementation of these changes and the cutoff of student involvement in yet another decision-making process?

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