Replacing the Hut
The closing of the Hut, Gilman's beloved reading room, resulted in a void on campus. The new Levering Lounge helps to compensate for this loss of space.
When plans for Gilman's closing were announced, we expressed concern that there would be a lack of suitable study space on campus. Hopkins has responded quickly to this potential conflict by increasing library hours as well as remodeling the former Hop Stop, transforming it into the Levering Lounge - a brightly lit, pragmatic study space.
Yet, so far, this space has been dramatically under-utilized, most likely due to a lack of adequate advertising. Students have not been sufficiently informed about this addition to campus. Instead of burying this in "Today's Announcements," the Administration should send a separate announcement via e-mail to the student body informing them of the new lounge. We are certain that once students are aware that this space exists, they will be happy to leave behind the crowded MSE.
The Levering Lounge will also serve to facilitate student-faculty interaction as the humanities departments' relocation to the Dell House has made it significantly more difficult for students to meet with their professors. The new lounge goes a long way towards addressing this problem.
However, the Lounge's limited hours will prevent it from being a satisfactory replacement for the HUT. As of now the Lounge will remain open only during Levering Hall's regular hours (until midnight on weeknights and 2 a.m. on weekends). These hours are insufficient. In order for the Levering Lounge to fulfill its purpose, the Administration must work towards keeping the space open 24/7, just as the HUT was kept open.
While the Levering Lounge is a generally positive development, the space's displacement of the Hop Stop - a poor but worthy attempt at a student union - reveals the University's overall priorities: academics first, but social life? When we get around to it.
Furthermore, the rapidity with which the Lounge was created contrasts with the seeming lack of urgency in providing disability accessible facilities on campus. Levering Hall itself is not accessible to physically disabled students.
When plans for Gilman's closing were announced, we expressed concern that there would be a lack of suitable study space on campus. Hopkins has responded quickly to this potential conflict by increasing library hours as well as remodeling the former Hop Stop, transforming it into the Levering Lounge - a brightly lit, pragmatic study space.
Yet, so far, this space has been dramatically under-utilized, most likely due to a lack of adequate advertising. Students have not been sufficiently informed about this addition to campus. Instead of burying this in "Today's Announcements," the Administration should send a separate announcement via e-mail to the student body informing them of the new lounge. We are certain that once students are aware that this space exists, they will be happy to leave behind the crowded MSE.
The Levering Lounge will also serve to facilitate student-faculty interaction as the humanities departments' relocation to the Dell House has made it significantly more difficult for students to meet with their professors. The new lounge goes a long way towards addressing this problem.
However, the Lounge's limited hours will prevent it from being a satisfactory replacement for the HUT. As of now the Lounge will remain open only during Levering Hall's regular hours (until midnight on weeknights and 2 a.m. on weekends). These hours are insufficient. In order for the Levering Lounge to fulfill its purpose, the Administration must work towards keeping the space open 24/7, just as the HUT was kept open.
While the Levering Lounge is a generally positive development, the space's displacement of the Hop Stop - a poor but worthy attempt at a student union - reveals the University's overall priorities: academics first, but social life? When we get around to it.
Furthermore, the rapidity with which the Lounge was created contrasts with the seeming lack of urgency in providing disability accessible facilities on campus. Levering Hall itself is not accessible to physically disabled students.
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