Students cry foul over end of overnight staffing at UBC residences – BC | 24CA News
Some UBC college students are calling on faculty’s administration to reinstate in a single day staffing on the college’s residences.
As of Aug. 1, UBC ended 24/7 staffing at pupil residences in favour of recent “mobile overnight teams.” The faculty’s Residence and Life administration stated the change was vital on account of staffing points.
A gaggle of scholars has now penned an open letter opposing the change, which they are saying reduces security, whereas additionally ending in a single day entry to residence gyms, research areas and customary rooms.
“In the cases of medical emergencies or unsafe situations, the Front Desk Staff have been an essential point of contact for residents,” the letter states.
“If something were to occur overnight, students will not only need to have access to a phone in order to get assistance, but they will also need to wait for the (overnight mobile team) to arrive … this change could have dire consequences in emergency situations.”
Kamil Kanji, the UBC Alma Matter Society’s vice-president of educational and college affairs, stated the scholar union shares the open letter’s issues.
He stated the brand new cell groups are untested and there’s no proof they are going to be simply pretty much as good as having in-person employees.
And he stated the change will go away college students ready longer for entry to security companies, whereas shedding the non-public contact that could be vital in a delicate state of affairs.
“A face-to-face resource is really more beneficial than to have to wait and make a phone call and have campus security or other members of the overnight team first find their way to you, and then try to address the issue, when normally it’s much easier to just talk directly and have a friendly face who you know and you’ve seen coming in and out of your building,” he stated.
“And if there’s emergencies happening at several residence buildings across campus, the AMS is really worried there might not be adequate service at all the residence buildings.”
Students that Global News spoke with at UBC’s Point Grey campus Friday had combined reactions to the change.
“A phone call — it’s like you can’t see their face, so the emotions don’t go through,” stated Kelly Lee. “The person who picks up might not understand.”
Adam Lee stated he understood the college’s place in regards to the problem of filling in a single day shifts, and that he has at all times felt secure sufficient on campus.
“I understand why it’s not essential so much anymore. After COVID we all kind of just got used to not having that face-t0-face interaction,” he stated. “It doesn’t affect me that much but I can definitely understand why other people would not feel as safe.”
In a press release, UBC affiliate vice-president of pupil housing and neighborhood companies, Andrew Parr, stated the change was essential to “improve continuity and sustainability” of companies.
“Increasingly Residence Life and Administration has faced challenges staffing front desks, especially at night, leading to last minute closures and consequent reduction in service to students,” Parr stated. “By creating dedicated teams of overnight mobile staff, we are able to improve service levels for students both during the day and at night.”
Parr stated college students can nonetheless entry companies in a single day by calling a central quantity from their telephone or by utilizing any blue telephone on campus
UBC has 15 residences at its Point Grey campus, housing greater than 13,000 college students.
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