$88,000 per year, one open library floor • The Tulane Hullabaloo

The library is warm and quiet, a haven for Tulane University students to gather in various groups, some bracing each other with flashcards, others preparing for the worst. As the clock strikes midnight and students in dire straits prepare for a dreaded sleepless night, something strange happens. Tulane closes all but one floor, and the library staff ushers the students to the first floor, where they remain for the rest of the night.

Despite being open 24 hours, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library closes its doors and leaves students on the cold first floor shortly after midnight. While the library does not close entirely, the banishment of our student body to the first floor, even on finals week, reveals an emphasis on saving money at the expense of learning.

Tulane is an expensive school. Tuition and fees are barely Students pay $88,000 a year for an education that is supposed to be top-notch. The fact that college students stay up all night, drink Red Bulls, and study for hours at a time during exam week and for most subjects is a common cliché, and it makes sense. College-level classes are demanding and require a lot of time and effort, forcing students to constantly cram.

It is surprising that Tulane does not allocate funds to ensure that there are many places where students can safely study at night, especially during finals week. All floors of the library are closed during nighttime hours except for the first floor, which has bright fluorescent lights and no noise limit. Tulane is sending a message to students that they have closed the library for learning.

Most of the reasons for the library closure are lighting and security costs. While keeping all floors of the library open would increase costs for Tulane, it would also send a powerful message to students: Tulane prioritizes academic success and offers a safe, convenient place to study.

To address this issue, one must begin by asking why a university with access to so much funding does not spend as much as it can on its academic infrastructure. And, furthermore, what cause could be more important than ensuring a safe and accessible environment for studying for final exams?