Ackerman Student Union to extend hours at the start of fall quarter to provide more campus space for students
Ackerman Union is extending its hours for certain food venues and study locations, appealing to late-night studying students. Restaurant expenses will not be increasing and students will not have to pay additional fees to help maintain the change.
By Basheer Alas
Sept. 16, 2011 3:55 p.m.
Aiming to provide more campus space for student use, Ackerman Student Union will be open until 1 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays beginning fall quarter.
Though the student store on the ground level will close at 11 p.m., Carl’s Jr., Bruin Buzz, Curbside and Game On! will have extended hours, said Roy Champawat, the director of Ackerman Student Union.
Meeting rooms on the second and third floor of Ackerman Union will also be open late for studying when they are not occupied by student groups, and more casual lounges will be available on the A-level, Champawat said.
The change will cost about $12,000 to maintain for the entire year and is funded entirely by Ackerman store profits, Champawat said.
Students will not have to pay additional fees and prices will not increase at restaurants to maintain the longer hours, he added.
If the longer hours generate enough student interest, other buildings, such as Kerckhoff Hall, may also extend their services till later, Champawat said.
The extension caters to students who need a safe place to work and relax on campus at night, said Karleen Giannitrapani, a third-year doctoral student in health services research and a two-year Associated Students UCLA board member.
Working with other members on the Board of Directors, Giannitrapani helped propose the change last year to more effectively utilize available campus space.
“You can create more space for students by keeping existing spaces open longer,” she said.
Kang Lee, a second-year undeclared student who often spends time in Ackerman Union studying, said the change was worthwhile. He said he prefers to study in Ackerman A-level because he focuses better with background noise.
“I would definitely come here more often if the hours were extended,” Lee said.
Third-year history student Danny Mullen frequents Ackerman venues like Bruin Buzz during study breaks from Powell Library.
He said it is important for campus stores to be open so he can grab a late-night coffee or juice.
“I feel it’s very necessary for places to be open late,” Mullen said. “I’m a huge proponent of late hours and accessibility.”
