Normally students trying to study on a Sunday night inside the Academic Information Resource Center would be shown to the door at midnight, but those days seem to be over.

A joint program by Computing, Communications and Media Services and the Associated Students Inc. has opened the AIRC around the clock to students Sunday through Thursday. At midnight Monday, ASI President Jesus Andrade eagerly showed off the setup of the late-night lab, nicknamed the Hornet Lounge. When the clock struck midnight, a glitch occurred: most of the lights went out. But this development did not deter most students, and the lights were back on by 2 a.m.

Accounting senior Bankole Fatunla and ethnic studies major Kim Folkes simply moved a table near some other lighting, and even used their computer screens to see. “I think this is a great idea,” Fatunla said. “When students go home sometimes, they tend to lose focus. This provides a good avenue.” He stuck around and studied despite some poor lighting for the first day.

“The Hornet Lounge is a safe and clean environment for students to come study or relax during the semester,” Andrade said.

Construction on the AIRC began in 2003 with a price tag of just over $17 million. Inside the complex, students can access computers, private study rooms, copy machines and OneCard recharging station. Students need only a Saclink account to access the computers. Only the second floor is opened during extended hours, Andrade said.

Arthur Buntin, lab manager at Sacramento State, said that Lyons Security was hired to patrol the lounge and the parking lot from 11:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Buntin also said that the security guard on duty would be trained to help students who need help understanding the features of the network.

ASI is providing the funding for security for the lounge. Campus Work Program, CWP, is an organization that specializes in student employment at Sac State.

“We added more student assistants from CWP for the AIRC during the day,” Andrade said. “And with the extra money saved, hired Lyons security to patrol the grounds at night.” Security for the Hornet Lounge is Andrade’s top priority. Andrade showed that the elevators inside the lounge do not access the third or fourth floors after midnight. “The (Lounge) overlooks the parking lot and there are multiple security call boxes at both Parking Structure III and on the path to the parking lot,” Andrade said.

Second-year accounting major Mai Vang is a student assistant during the evening for the AIRC. Her shift normally lasts from 6 p.m. until midnight.

“The security guard will come in and replace me, so I do not have to work early into the morning,” Vang said. Vang and Buntin spent time familiarizing the security guard with the features of the lab.

The Hornet Lounge is not Sac State’s first attempt at a late-night study lounge. Tahoe Hall was the location of the previous effort, but security and student interest were lacking.

“This is a win-win for the students and Sac State,” Andrade said. “The students get a facility that is safe and helpful, and the university fulfills a piece of the Destination 2010 initiative.

Andrade praised the efforts of CCMS director Scott McGown and credited him with the lab being open 24 hours on Sundays as well as Mondays through Thursdays.

“When I first mentioned the idea of an all-night lab,” Andrade said, “I could barely get the words out of my mouth before they were on board.”

ASI is currently printing bookmarks and T-shirts to promote the study lounge.

Besides the bookmarks and T-shirts, ASI is also printing a large banner to advertise the Hornet Lounge that will hang in the quad sometime this week. To Andrade, the Lounge is part of his legacy, and he takes pride in watching it blossom.

“Hopefully, before I am gone by the end of the semester,” he said, “I would like to see the bottom floor open all night, but it all hinges on the students’ demands.”

Jordan Guinn can be reached at [email protected]