Locked labs trouble students
CEBA restricts late-night access
By Samantha Sieber, Staff Writer
For semesters they have worked all day and researched at night. But this semester, several mechanical engineering students are complaining about accessing their research labs in CEBA after 11 p.m.
Pankaj Gupta, a mechanical engineering graduate student, said CEBA began locking its doors after hours for the first time this semester.
The graduate students who work or attend classes during the day cannot get into their research labs after hours to complete projects. Students asked the administration for personal keys to the lab, but the mechanical engineering department head were told them it was not feasible.
Amol Jodhav, a mechanical engineering graduate student, argued it is necessary for students to have access to the building at night because it is most students’ only free time.
Jodhav said currently after 11 p.m., students become confined within their labs. If they go to the restroom they are unable to return to their labs without personal access.
Bob Dillemuth, Facility Services assistant director, said Facility Services has tried to lock the doors in CEBA since he began working for the University. Historically the doors were locked until people vandalized the locks, he said.
Dillemuth also said heightened awareness around the campus this semester has caused the University to lock some buildings after 4:30 p.m.
“It is the department’s responsibility to provide access to faculty and students who need it,” Dillemuth said. “Our responsibility is to lock the doors and keep it secure. At this point in time everything is working, and there is no
vandalism.”
The same problem faced the School of Art until it installed a card access system allowing students and faculty access.
College of Art and Design Dean, Fred Ortner, said he installed the system after he overheard students talking to faculty members about not being able to get into the Art Building to finish projects after hours and because of football games.
Before assuming the dean position, Ortner and former Provost Dan Fogel agreed to install a card access system for the college. In July, Ortner began working with Facility Services to get the system installed.
The system gives all students enrolled in art classes or art and design majors access to all art buildings through their student ID cards.
“[The card access system] empowers students,” Ortner said. “It is their building. It is their studio.”
Engineering Dean, Pius Egbelu, said he was unaware of the students’ problem until a student contacted him two weeks ago.
“We are trying to overcome this problem because it is not a good thing,” Egbelu said. “They need to be in the lab.”
Egbelu said the ideal situation would be to give all students keys to their labs, but it would be hard to keep track of the keys. The department currently is trying to find a way to install a card access system, he said.