There is nothing more enjoyable than hearing the imaginary 5 p.m. horn signaling the workforce to head on home. However I, like many students, am detoured away from the comfort of my home, finding myself planted in an uncomfortable chair, in an icebox of a room, for an extended three hour lecture. Not to mention the prevailing growl of my stomach as my dinner hour clicks on by. But don’t you worry, I am permitted to take a ten minute break to walk to the restaurant of my choice, wait in line, eat my food, and walk back to class. For whoever created this schedule, I would like to say thank you for your consideration, on behalf of all the night students; and yes, the sarcasm is streaming out of my mouth.

Looking a little further into the issue, I decided to see what options were available to me around 7:00-7:30 at night. Amazingly I discovered that there were nine places open, Monday through Thursday, around this time. Although it doesn’t quite compare to the 26 eateries available during the day, I try to stay positive, recognizing I still have quite a selection to choose from in my ten minute time span. But there are still a few obstacles standing between me and the delicious sense of food hitting my taste buds.

For starters, all but one of the nine places available to me are located in the Student Union, at the far south end of campus. Not to mention only four of the nine are actual food places, two are vending machines, two are coffee houses that serve morning breakfast snacks, and one is an ice cream shop that will satisfy your sweet tooth. Interesting how the selection I once thought I had, seems to be diminishing as fast as my hunger is growing.

My choices are as follows: Burger King, Da Deli, Gordito Burrito, and Round Table Pizza. At least my choices are varied when it comes to the food they serve. But the problem of location and the time I am allotted still reigns. With classes on the far north end of campus, it is nearly impossible for one to make it to the Union and back again without being late. Therefore, the moral of this dilemma is, “Bring dinner from home.”

The issue of food is only one of many prevailing factors that separate daytime students from their evening counterparts. The ability to successfully access faculty and department staff members comes in at a close second. Being that I am part of the workforce, I am sympathetic and understanding to the eight-hour a day shift. Whether you choose to work 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and so forth, I think there should at least be some requirement to have one or two staffers from each department available to students.

Arriving on campus at 6 p.m. to begin my “school-day” I find that although there are students still lingering around, most of the academic departments are slowly, but surely turning off office lights and locking doors. How is someone supposed to speak with a counselor in person, if their office hours are in the middle of the day at an absurd hour? Instead of solving a problem or having a question answered that night, I return to my computer the next day and pray that the staffer I am writing will answer my questions via e-mail.

I was under the impression that college is meant to further your education, which in turn, increases your chance of finding a better job. However, for those who are fortunate enough to have a job already, why is the administration continually withholding the services that we pay for at an increasing price each year? Would you rather I quit my job so I can attend to an 11:30 a.m. mandatory class for my major, which is not offered at any other time during the week; or maybe so I can meet with my counselor to make sure that I am on the right path to graduate?

Understanding that these are “minor” issues to be discussed and dealt with, I can comprehend how the administration sees no need to ensure that every student has access to the services of their choice at a time when it is convenient for them.