Donations reopen Night Powell

Night Powell reopened Monday at 11 p.m. as a result of two donations made on behalf of the late-night study venue, said Jason Tengco, an Undergraduate Students Association general representative.

Closure of the nighttime service was announced on Aug. 4, when University Librarian Gary Strong released a letter to the community explaining that $1.8 million had to be eliminated from the UCLA library’s operating budget as part of system-wide cuts.

To save Night Powell, the College Library would need $125,000.

Night Powell was reopened Monday night following five weeks of being closed. The College Library program will be funded by two donations totalling $100,000. The remaining funds may be provided by the Undergraduate Students Association Council, pending a vote at a meeting tonight.

Tengco said two donors, who gave a combined $100,000, will fund it. USAC will vote tonight on whether to provide the last $25,000.

Dawn Setzer, director of Library Communications, could not confirm the details of the donation.

Though Night Powell opened last night from 11 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. the hours may change slightly at first, Setzer said.

“The first couple of weeks may be slightly rocky as we work out the staffing schedule with the CSO office, but it is our intention to be open these hours,” Setzer said in a statement.

According to the statement, the CLICC Lab may also eventually be open during Night Powell hours, but that has yet to be confirmed.

Night Powell includes access to the reading rooms and does not include any access to the reserves, Setzer said.

Tengco and other USAC representatives have met with Chancellor Gene Block and Strong independently since the summer in hopes of reviving the program. A committee was formed to find alternatives to closing the program.

The Committee on Library and Scholarly Communications was created under Academic Affairs Commissioner Layhannara Tep.

“USAC had breakfast with the chancellor, and during that breakfast he mentioned he would find people to fund Night Powell,” Tengco said. “During our meeting with Gary Strong, I let him know that the chancellor would open up funding.”

Tengco said his role on the committee was to keep communication open between the two administrators.

“My role was, one, advising the committee and making sure they were updated with numbers and held accountable,” he said. “And two, letting Gary Strong know that the Chancellor would open up funding.”

The USAC meeting will be held in Kerckhoff 417 at 7 p.m.

With reports from Sean Greene, Bruin contributor.