Students looking to take advantage of Tresidder Memorial Union’s first floor area — a valuable collective study and meeting space for students looking for a central campus location — have faced inconsistency in the building’s closure time. Tresidder has recently closed earlier than its original 2 a.m. time — a source of tension and confusion for students and staff as the final round of midterms approaches.

Now, only the second floor lobby remains open until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends. Meanwhile, students have been experiencing inconsistent closing hours on the first floor.

“The lower part of Tresidder closes at a different time than the upstairs due to security, access and safety issues surrounding a large seating and function area that currently is not covered through direct supervision,” said Karen Andrews, associate director of retail and concessions for Stanford Dining. “Although our last operation closes at 8 p.m., managers stay and additional two hours before they begin to close down. Due to the large size of the facility, multiple entrances and exits, product and equipment inventory, it is required to provide supervision in case of any emergencies.”

Jeanette Smith-Laws, director of Tresidder meeting services, said that the remodeling of the downstairs space two years ago has created security concerns.

“It is really because the design of the space,” she said. “Before we redesigned the space, there used to be a gate that closed off the food services. Students had said it would be nicer to have it more open — in opening that space we created some other problems.”

Smith-Laws said she has been working with the downstairs managers in the hope of keeping the space open until later at night.

“I’m trying to work with the downstairs space because the intent was to have the downstairs space until 2 a.m.,” she said. “The problem is some of the services close a little earlier. One of the issues and problems they were having is when the food services shut down, there’s no way to secure the food areas. 5-SURE runs on the second floor — perhaps we can have a student that sits down in the space to monitor the space.”

The apparent compromise was locking all the doors leading into the facility at 8 p.m. when the eateries close, but not kicking out people inside until 10 p.m.

Students have expressed dissatisfaction with the early closing of the downstairs space. Senior Stephanie Mika said she has been asked to leave the downstairs meeting space at Tresidder.

“I was meeting with my group for a group project at Tresidder at 9 p.m.,” she said. “We tried to meet downstairs in the eating area by Subway and I managed to get inside when another group of students opened the doors for me — the doors were already locked. At some point a guy with a mop came by and told us that the downstairs was closed, asking us to leave.”

Junior Lizzie Suiter, who shared the experience, felt that Tresidder’s policy of locking the doors while lettings students work inside had no substantial effect and left many frustrated.

“They just started locking the doors,” she said. “A bunch of people were still working around me as well, but no one could get in. Subsequently, people from outside would see us working and would try to get in. Upon reaching the locked doors, they would knock, and every five or so minutes, I would have to get up and let them in. So locking the doors was kinda worthless.”

Suiter said she and her group had to move to the lounge area on the second floor, where there was not enough space.

“We went to the upstairs of Tresidder,” she said. “There were, honestly, seven other groups who had been displaced from downstairs Tresidder. Groups were sitting in corners, next to plants. People were hoarding plug outlets for their computers. If a group who had chairs and a table would make any motion to leave, groups tired from sitting uncomfortably on the floor would frantically fight to take over the area.”

Senior Eric Mayefsky has experienced the changes in Tresidder hours throughout his four years, as his bridge club has regularly met there.

“Before the remodeling about two years ago, we’d play bridge until about 2 a.m. They’d kick us out then. Now, they try to passively or actively kick us out earlier. The bridge club met weekly there. Tresidder is a central location that’s open late, and you don’t need a key to get into it. It’s ideal.”

Mayefsky said that his club still meets in Tresidder, but with much difficulty.

“Last year they were big on just kicking us out at 10 p.m., and now they lock the doors at 8 p.m,” he said. “You can still open the doors from the inside. Recently, at 8 p.m. they turned off the lights and then turned them back on and made some comment about us needing to leave. But she didn’t push it so we just stayed. We manage, but it’s a pain. We still play there.”

In an interview with The Daily, Smith-Laws expressed surprise at these complaints.

“That’s really surprising to me,” she said. “I would like to hear about those things. We want the building hours to be consistent. We want them to be open. We want to provide what we’ve committed to do, which is being open until 2 a.m.”

Smith-Laws added that students should come to her if they have complaints.

“It is really important to get feedback from students,” she said. “Maybe we need to build a better mechanism so the students know if they have complaints or issues, who do they go to. The answer to that is me. We should get that out to people.”

Andrews said she hopes students will work out a solution that complies with Tresidder’s needs.

“I will be in touch with Tresidder management in finding a common resolution to this issue,” she said. “I would like to work with the students and other stakeholders so we can best understand how to meet the needs of everyone.”