UCSD Students Force Open a Closed Library Due to Lack of Study Space

By Mona Abdi/Gazzetta

Students successfully forced open doors of a closed library Monday morning at the .

The Center for Library & Instructional Computing Services (CLICS) was one of three libraries closed as the university’s response to the $3 million dollar budget cut for the 2011-2012 school year.

Students, frustrated with the lack of study space available on campus during finals week, began to assemble outside of the library 7 a.m. on Monday morning with blankets and study material demanding by 11 a.m. CLICS be open for student use.

Officers guarded the entrance to the library, famous for its 24-hour accommodation during finals week, until university officials asked them to leave in order to avoid confrontation with students.

According to the San Diego Union Tribune, vice chancellor Gary Matthews stated:

“We asked (the police) to leave so we wouldn’t have any interactions…I think since the events at UC Davis, UC Berkeley, Penn State and Syracuse, everyone is reassessing responses, and the need to respond, and our duty to protect property and make sure everyone is safe.”

Shortly after the deadline passed students began to force open the doors of CLICS and reclaim the library, administrators arrived not long after and began talks with various student leaders.

Administrators agreed to overlook the students forced entry into the building, and are working out the specifics of the security and maintenance of CLICS.

CLICS will be open the remainder of finals week, however, word has yet to be given if the library will be open at any other point during this school year.

Students frustrations are partly centered on the universities recent $1.3 million dollar installation on the Jacob’s School of Engineering.

One student told the Union Tribune, “We’re paying tuition through the roof and they blow money all over the place.”

This article was originally published on Gazzetta.