The University has restricted student access to level 5 and level 6 of the New Law School Building and students may no longer use the bridge as a study space with some staff expressing concerns the area has been misused.
The door leading up to level 6 has been locked and students are also unable to use the lift in the building to access the level.
A University spokesperson confirmed to Honi Soit that “A small number of spaces in the Law Building have restricted access, including key administrative workspaces on levels 5 and 6 that are reserved for staff use only.”
The spokesperson did not answer specific questions about why the decision was made recently to close the space but said that students could still access the bridges on level 3 and 4 of the building as an informal study space.
Multiple students have approached Honi expressing disappointment over the decision. One second year Commerce student said that it was their favourite study spot and fully restricting the space was “too far.”
“They were both very nice areas…the staff already have all the rooms,” he said.
A third year Law student expressed a similar sentiment saying that “it felt like an arbitrary decision,” and arguing that “there is no harm from students being and using the space quietly.”
An anonymous staff member said the decision was taken after students had consistently stolen food out of the kitchen, and filmed in the area without the consent of staff present.
“These weren’t isolated incidents, this was becoming a trend. Staff deserve safe communal spaces, and an increasing number of students weren’t respecting the space,” the staff member said.
Honi has previously reported on the campus being more restrictive. Staff members have reported that staff common rooms and other shared spaces like libraries are now increasingly only open to designated card holders.
During the protests surrounding the Gaza solidarity encampment the University locked down buildings and changed the opening times of others as a form of crowd control.
The spokesperson said that the “New Law School building is a shared space designed to meet the needs of many users including staff, students, visitors and guests.”
