The Office of Student Unions and Activities (OSUA) came under heavy fire this past spring semester, not just in UB's student publications, but in The Buffalo News and on local television broadcasts as well. As many remember, OSUA became entangled in a widely publicized tussle with the editors of The Spectrum over the Student Union building hours. After Spectrum editors consistently failed to finish their paper and leave the building before it was locked down at midnight, building managers were instructed to call the University Police. The editors were then arrested, frisked, put in a holding cell, tried, convicted, and sentenced to community service hours.

Several members of the university community rallied around them, including English Department Chair Barbara Bono, former SA President Brendan Keane, former University Council Representative Yotam Hod, and members of Generation's editorial board. They participated in a sit-in, which was televised by Channel 4 News.

In some cases, people supported The Spectrum because they believed that a different set of rules should apply for those who put out a time-relevant periodical. Others, however, viewed The Spectrum's plight as simply a means of taking aim at OSUA for different issues. As the former editor of this magazine, I can say that both stances applied to Generation, which has had long-running problems with OSUA. These included a number of issues, from swipe card access, to our own difficulties producing a time-relevant publication within the constraints of the Student Union's building hours.

Well, things are changing.

Recently, Generation received an official memorandum regarding the Student Union's building hours policy this year from OSUA Director Andrea Constantino. According to Constantino, a similar letter was received by editors of The Spectrum. In it, she listed the building hours, then said that in the event of "an unforeseen emergency" which could cause the publications to not be finished on time, the building managers will lock down the Student Union according to normal procedure. Generation and Spectrum staff will be permitted to remain until they have completed their issues.

"It is crucial that in this event, you exit the building immediately upon completion of the current issue," Constantino wrote. "You and your organization will be held responsible in the event that an incident occurs during such time as you are locked in the building."

Mike Davitiashvili, this year's Spectrum editor, expressed thanks for OSUA's new policy. "I had a conversation with Andrea Constantino, and we reached an understanding that pleases both our parties," he said. "There's no hard feelings, and we look forward to a good working relationship with them in the future."

Present Generation Editor-in-Chief Carlos Torres echoed this point: "Andrea has been willing to listen to any complaints or ideas we've had–not just about the building hours, but about a lot of things. I think one of the problems, at least on our part, is that we never dealt with her directly until now."

The overall change in OSUA's attitude may not affect only the editors of Generation and The Spectrum in the long-run, but any student club or organization who has an office in the building. Scratch that–any student who wants access to the building at night at all.

Recently, I met with Constantino to discuss the future of the Student Union building hours overall. She seemed more than receptive to any ideas students have regarding hours. Possibilities range from giving those with access to offices in the Student Union keys to the building itself, to keeping the building open later on certain days, or having it open to everyone 24/7.

"The Student Union Advisory Council is going to be meeting this semester," Constantino said. "We've done a survey, asking students if they want the building to be open longer. To what time? On what days? Do they want a 24-hour Student Union? We carried that on for part of the spring semester, and then decided we'd start it up again in the fall, and continue it, and make some decisions by the end of the fall semester, both for this spring and for next year.

"If students are interested and want the building to be open longer, there is obviously room for discussion on that. We're not opposed to it in any way. We want to have those conversations. This semester will be our time to reach out for feedback… To be honest with you, our building hours may change, and may have to go later, because with more students on campus with the housing, we may just decide that more services need to be offered.

"Everything is on the table right now."

SA President Monica Monyo, who sits on the Advisory Council, also seemed receptive to a new Student Union building hours policy. "We'll support whatever the students want," she said. "We'd like to get whatever extra hours we can, but we may have to test it out, and see what does and does not work."

The Student Union Advisory Council meets once a month, though the meeting dates have not been set yet for this school year. The surveys are available at the front desk in OSUA's office (150 Student Union). If you have more elaborate suggestions than can conveniently fit on a survey form, Constantino invites you to make an appointment with her. She can be reached at 645-6125.