Macalester College Student Government (MCSG) is facing off against Career Development Center Director (CDC) Denise Ward over a proposed plan to extend the late-night hours of the CDC-managed Kagin Computer Lab.

MCSG hopes to keep the lab open until 3 a.m. on weeknights. If demand for the late-night hours is high, MCSG plans on pushing for 24-hour access to the lab.

Ward, however, is against extending the hours of the lab, claiming that the risk to student and equipment safety is too great.

She worries that it will be nearly impossible to find student monitors to keep a watchful eye over the lab past 2 a.m., the lab's current weekday closing time. Without a monitor, she believes the security threats are unacceptable.

"My only concerns, really and truly, are safety of the users and equipment," said Ward.

Last year, 85 percent of student respondents to an MCSG survey said they wanted more studying space after the library closes on weeknights. The library's weeknight hours end at midnight.

Carleton College, a nearby liberal arts school with a similar undergraduate population, has multiple 24-hour computer labs.

In a letter sent to Ward, Dean of Students Laurie Hamre, Assistant Dean of Students Myra Garnes, and The Mac Weekly, MCSG attempted to address Ward's concerns by outlining a detailed security plan that would include a video camera, multiple panic buttons, card access policies, a dedicated "emergency phone," and occasional checks by security guards.

MCSG claims that its security plan is more than enough to satisfy Ward's reservations and even states that the plan "would make even Donald Rumsfeld envious."

The letter reiterated a Macalester Annual Crime Report 1999-2000 finding that there were no cases of premeditated attacks on Macalester students in Macalester buildings. The letter also notes that "the total of 2 assault and sex-offense cases that have been reported have clearly not warranted closing down other equally isolated 24-hour spaces, such as WMCN, the Mac Weekly Office, 'The Link' or the laundry room in Kirk."

MCSG believes that the combination of the lab security enhancements and the lack of precedence of a crime occurring within a Macalester building should justify allowing students to work in the lab late at night.

Ward remains steadfast in her worries for student safety. "I haven't personally been convinced that [an unstaffed lab] would be the best scenario for our student users of the facility," she said. "I'm not a safety expert. What I am is someone whohas worked with students who have been assaulted … its a basement with multiple crooks and crannies."

Ward claims that all the proposed security precautions are not strong enough deterrents; they would only aid in apprehending computer lab attackers after a crime has occurred.

"The things that are [in the letter] are post-attack," Ward said. "If someone was attacked, you have a tape to see who that person was … There's a panic button so that if someone is assaulted, if they could get to the button, they could do that… in essence you are responding after the fact."

In addition, Ward believes that Macalester's low incidence of aggravated assault is an indication of caution on the part of the Administration. "If attacks don't happen here, then I'd say in general that some of the decisions that have been made are pretty good because we've been able to provide a safe environment for our students," she said.

Ward also has concerns about who will pay for the new security equipment. She says that the CDC has no room in its budget for the amenities listed in the MCSG letter.

"I have not seen any cost projection… [the security equipment] doesn't come for free. Would the student government like to provide those accommodations?"

Aqeel said that he would personally make a capital request to MCSG. However, he also said that he wants to talk to Dean Hamre about the Administration possibly contributing financially to the new equipment.

Exacerbating their disagreements over lab hours, MCSG and Ward have struggled with communication problems.

Ward claims that she did not know of the 3 a.m. plan until she received the letter from MCSG. Prior to that, she believed that MCSG wanted to go straight to 24-hour access.

Aqeel says that he and Ward discussed the 3 a.m. plan during a Feb. 6 face-to-face conversation. Ward, however, said, "that wasn't a conversation that I had with Haris."

"The [3 a.m. time] could maybe be workable," she added, noting that it was only a one-hour extension of current hours.

Similarly, Aqeel and Ward are in disagreement about the whether the wiring for card access is pre-existing or would have to be installed at a significant cost. Aqeel claims that Dean Hamre told him that the wiring is there. The MCSG letter also cites Hamre's statement.

Ward, however, said, "nobody has said we have the wiring."

MCSG and Ward even disagree on whether or not the Kagin Computer Lab is the best place to establish a 24-hour study space.

Ward believes that the isolated nature of the lab, which is located in the basement of Kagin, makes the lab far too remote to be safe at all hours of the night.

"You need a place where there are other human inhabitants 24/7," she said. "If somebody screams, there needs to be traffic… There should be a visual to it, so that there are some built-in deterrents."

She suggested that the residence halls could offer better late-night alternatives.

"I'm in agreement that we need [late-night computer labs], but is [Kagin] the best space?" she said. "I think that there are some better solutions."

MCSG Wednesday issued a statement to The Mac Weekly regarding its miscommunications with Ward. "Let us be clear: We feel there was no misinterpretation from our side. But that is not the issue. The issue is empowering students—and students want the study space to be open for as long as they need. We have received no credible response from Ms. Ward as to why this cannot happen."

Ward and MCSG are in agreement that the 15 percent of Macalester students that do not own their own computer comprise the group that are most hurt by the absence of late-night computer access.

MCSG believes that "the lack of a [late-night computer lab] space discriminates against students who cannot afford to buy computers." Ward suggested that there might be other ways to provide all-hours computer access to these students. She mentioned computer equipment leasing as a possible alternative.

While MCSG and Ward attempt to iron out a compromise, Ward said that she would plug ahead with her current management of the lab. She has been trying to find a monitor to keep the lab open until 2 a.m. Monday morning, the only school morning in which the lab is not open past the library.

Ward also said that she will extend lab hours during midterms and finals. She plans on hiring security personnel to staff the lab past the normal 2 a.m. closing time.

"This is a model that the library has used [during midterms and finals]," she said.

Ward has managed the Kagin computer lab since it opened in September 2002. The lab has fourteen computers – ten Windows machines and four Macs – and a laser printer.