By Liam Reilly, in collaboration with Jack Ruderman
@liampreilly852
A new change in Cheney Dining Hall has left the campus with mixed feelings.
Since the original construction of Cheney Hall in 1968, the building has always had two entrances for students to go in and out of. These entrances, located on the north and south sides of the building, helped the flow of traffic of entering and exiting.
However a sudden change has come to the exits that have been around for more than half a century. At the start of the school year, the exit near Schoo-Bemis Hall was turned into an emergency exit.
The adjustment was made official earlier in September when the Office of Finance and Administration sent an email saying the north entrance of Cheney Hall would become the main entrance/exit, while the south doors are now emergency exit only.
An alarm system was added, so that if anyone walked through the doors, the alarm would sound off. “Emergency exit only” signage was added to the doors inside of Cheney and the doors leading out of the hall as well.
Students have been divided on if the change was necessary.
One one hand, some students like how no one can get by anymore without having to swipe their pride card. At times last year there wouldn’t be a worker by the Schoo-Bemis exit, allowing anyone to get in without being charged a meal swipe.
Will Edwards, a second year student residing in Abbey-Appleton Hall, expressed his thoughts on the new development.
“Last year it was really convenient since I lived in Massasoit, but now that I don’t live on that side of campus anymore, it doesn’t matter to me,” Edwards said.
He also believes that it’s more fair now that students can’t sneak by anymore.
“Sometimes there wasn’t a person at the computer and people would try to sneak in.”
Other students are upset with the holdup of trying to get in and out of the entrance by Judd Gymnasium.
Evan Carlson, a second year student and residential assistant living in Reed Hall, spoke on how the transition has affected him.
“During busy times the doors are too small for people to be entering and exiting at the same time. Since they turned the doors near Schoo-Bemis into the emergency exit, it’s created a lot of traffic at the doors near Judd Gymnasium,” Carlson said. “Letting students use both sets of doors again would fix the problem. Students would have an easier time getting in and out of Cheney if the second doors were opened again.”
The change was made by Todd Alden, the Hospitality Services Director. Alden has been with the Harvest Table for 3 years, and felt the emergency exit was necessary.
“In order to streamline operations, increase efficiency, strengthen safety, and utilize existing personnel in a more efficient manner, the decision was made to close the Schoo-Bemis side of the dining hall,” Alden said.
In response to the dismayed students who felt the revision was unnecessary, Alden said, “When it comes to guests who don’t like changes that were made, I always listen to them. There have been times where we modify the change that was made.”
The adjustments to the doors were made earlier in the month, and have not been changed since.
The emergency exit is here to stay.
Photo by Jack Ruderman/The Student