By Lauren Lane
Staff Writer
Recently Simmons has put up signs on doors and outside the library, stating that soon the library will be reserved for Simmons students only, and I have waited for this day every semester. I do not go to the library every day, or even every week, but when I do I would like the chance to use a table or computer station. However, many times all I see are books and lanyards from other colleges sitting in the chairs that I am paying to be able to sit in.
For those who may not be aware, Simmons is a part of the Colleges of the Fenway, which also includes Wentworth Institute of Technology, Wheelock College, Emmanuel College, Massachussets College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. We six schools do a lot together throughout the year and have a great deal of privileges we share.
We are all allowed to cross-register for classes among the universities; many Wentworth, Wheelock, and Emmanuel students frequent our gym, and the COF spring carnival is typically held on the Simmons College residence quad.
In addition, all COF students and those involved in the Fenway Library Consortium are allowed to come and use the Simmons library. While the library hours for Simmons College students are 7:30 a.m. until midnight, and various times on the weekends depending on the time of year, the hours for non-Simmons students are only 7:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. and only 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Non-Simmons students are supposed to complete a request for access form in order to set up an appointment to enter the library not during their designated time frame or during peak hours, which are listed as all of December and April 15-May 12 on the Simmons College library website.
“I think it’s really helpful for students. As a student worker at the library I have witnessed many non-Simmons students in a way that is unfair to the Simmons students who pay tuition to go to this school.
“Specifically students from MCPHS take up a lot of space on the second floor and often use study rooms they have no right to. In the past, when the library was open to everyone during finals preparation this became an issue because the library gets very crowded. With the restriction, Simmons students are able to now find a place to study,” said senior circulation desk student worker, Kina Wilbur Kamien. “I actually think there should be stronger restrictions. Many non-Simmons students piggyback their way in and let friends in after them.”
While it might be extreme to some, I would even recommend that to Simmons should station security officers outside the library and have them check each ID. This is really the only way to be sure the restrictions are followed for the full benefit of Simmons students.
