Student government and the EMU have decided to enforce an already-existing EMU policy that keeps people out of the building after hours unless a notice is filed with the ASUO three days in advance.
The decision has drawn criticism from two student groups, the Oregon Commentator and The Insurgent.
Officials said past theft and incidents where strange people were found in the building factored into the decision to enforce the policy, as well as their desire to ensure the safety of the EMU night staff.
“Safety at night is going to be our number one priority, and safety for the people who are not only ASUO programs,” said David Goward, programs administrator for the ASUO.
Goward said night managers will ask people in the building to leave after 11:30 p.m. in the top levels of the EMU and 2 a.m. in the bottom level.
“The rationale is very simple,” EMU Director Dusty Miller said. “The more people you have in a publicly announced closed building after hours, the greater the opportunity exists for an external door to accidentally be left open, and people who you normally wouldn’t have in the building would get in your building.”
KWVA, the campus radio station, is federally mandated to broadcast 24 hours a day. Also, the Oregon Daily Emerald is excluded from the policy enforcement because it is under contract with student government to publish five days a week and has a midnight deadline. Other programs with offices in the EMU must e-mail David Goward three days in advance to request permission to stay in the building after hours.
Ian Spencer, editor in chief of the Oregon Commentator, said he understands the security precaution but thinks it could be handled in a more efficient and convenient manner.
“It would be a lot easier if there were a permanent list … and if only 12 hours were required (for e-mailing notices) – or something a little more timely,” he said. Also, Spencer said it would be particularly inconvenient around publication deadline, when stories come in late and things get pushed back anyway.
Don Goldman, a writer and illustrator for The Insurgent, said the policy enforcement hinders the student publication.
“The whole thing seems arbitrary,” Goldman said. “It’s pointless and stupid. We have nothing to do with this vandalism and theft. We feel this is discrimination.”
Nearly $35,000 in student fees are being distributed to The Insurgent and The Oregon Commentator this year.
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