Fine arts students say they aren’t getting enough studio hours to finish assignments now that security is closing the Art Building at 11 p.m.
The building is officially open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day, but student Katie Carillo said the Art Building hours weren’t enforced until last week, and she used to work on projects after closing.
Carillo said she was working late with other students in a studio last Monday when a security guard told them they needed to leave.
“We were kind of confused because there were a few of my other classmates in there, too, and we’ve worked after midnight quite a few times in the Art Building,” Carillo said. “We asked how long that rule has been in place. He said since the beginning of the year, but they’ve never told us that before.”
David Craven, chairman of the Art and Art History Department, said the hours haven’t changed in the 16 years he’s been at UNM, and the hours are being enforced because of safety complaints to security guards.
Craven said the Art Building closes at night because of student safety and expense. As chairman of the department, Craven has the authority to decide how late the building is open.
“We really are not going to change the hours,” he said. “We’ve done a study of it, and it’s not financially feasible at the moment. We’re also worried about the safety with homeless people coming in here, some of which are violent.”
Carillo said students need later hours in the Art Building because it provides them with art materials they can’t access at home. She said tools for design classes and large spaces to paint aren’t readily available, especially in dorms.
“I think a lot of people are upset about it because they don’t really have the resources to do projects outside of campus,” she said. “You need the right ventilation and space to work in.”
Craven said the Art Building’s official hours should give students enough time in the studio.
“If people are organized, they should be able to do work between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.,” he said. “We have to organize our time. It’s just one of those things.”
However, graduate students in fine arts can access the Art Building after hours because they have keys to the building, Craven said.
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“Graduate students who are grading people, there are times when you have to come in and get your grade book. That’s different,” he said.
By contrast, all architecture students have access to studios in the Architecture and Planning Building 24 hours a day, seven days a week, said Roger Schluntz, Architecture and Planning dean.
The Art Building uses about $4.85 per square foot of energy per year compared to the Architecture Building, which uses $1.17, according to the UNM Physical Plant.
Students in the architecture and planning program can access the architecture building studio at any time by swiping their Lobo ID cards at the doors.
Craven said an ID swiping system could be used for the Art Building, but authorization would probably only be granted to graduate students.
Schluntz said the cost of keeping the Architecture building open all night doesn’t come from student fees. He said the University pays for it.
He said students haven’t had safety issues when coming and going from the building late at night and escort services are available for students who feel uncomfortable.
Architecture student Chad Griffin-Lucero said he spends the majority of his time in the Architecture Building studio, especially after 11 p.m.
“Eleven is around the time that you’re working the most,” he said. “With the building being open 24 hours for us, it’s definitely an attribute that we love. You can come in any time in the evening or early in the morning.”
Griffin-Lucero said he’s not unsafe when leaving the building late at night. He said he uses the architectures studios at least 72 hours per week.
“We usually try to leave in groups and it’s pretty well lit,” he said. “It’s not too bad being near Central Avenue because people are more than happy to walk you out if you’re too afraid to do it on your own. I’ve never felt uncomfortable at night.”
Art Studio major Lily Robles said the Art Building studio should be open later than 11 p.m. She said working late hours at the studio doesn’t make her nervous because students usually travel in groups.
“If the studio closes at 11 p.m., there are classes there until around 8:30 or 9 at night, so that only gives the rest of us open studio for two hours, and then we have to go,” she said. “We always come in little groups, so if we are walking places and it’s late, we have each other to walk with.”
