ACE, ACW, Fine Arts Building lockup times shut students out
Yuni Kim
News Editor
Brianna Roberts is a fourth-year theatre major, co-president of the Theatre Student Association (TSA) and is part of the Creative Arts Students Association (CASA).
She, along with many other students in the Fine Arts program at York, practically live in the Accolade East (ACE), Accolade West (ACW), and Fine Arts Building. But due to the recent evening closure of the three buildings, the late-night study crews have had to congregate elsewhere.
“Studios close at 10 p.m. but sometimes people will stay in the buildings at later times to meet for projects,” she says. “There’s no way that many people can meet at someone’s house, so we use the building space at night. We can’t do that anymore now.”
According to Wallace Pidgeon of York media, the electronic access control system that locks the doors at a set time has been around campus since 2003. The system is installed in about 25 buildings on campus. Community members requiring building access after closing time, he says, can make direct arrangements with the appropriate faculty for an access card.
“As with other universities, it is York’s plan to eventually have electronic systems on all of our building perimeter doors so that the buildings can be secured overnight,” says Pidgeon. “University assets are better protected, and those required to be in the buildings have a safer environment.”
However, Roberts points out that a majority of these students live in the Village and at Pond Residence, which are both located on the other side of ACE, ACW, and the Fine Arts Building. At night, most residents cut through the buildings to get to their homes quicker and safer.
Roberts is wary of the poorly-lit detours students will have to take instead.
“As a female walking around at night, it feels safer in a well-lit indoors area,” she says. “As girls, we’re always told to not go around in the dark. […] I understand what the university’s trying to do, but it feels counterproductive.”
She says students would feel safer if there was more security or lighting in the surrounding areas.
“A lot of students voiced concerns,” says Roberts. “The university feels it’s a safety issue, but people are feeling less safe.”
ACE, ACW, and the Fine Arts Building are open from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, except for special events.
