Some services unavailable for night students

By Graham Henderson
Staff Writer

Students taking evening classes at City College face difficulties most daytime students never have to deal with: some resources students depend on are not always available while night classes are in session.

“I have to get everything done by 4 p.m.,” said Molli Fire, a student taking night classes at the Mission campus. “Things were open late at Ocean [campus], but basics aren’t open here.”

The media center lab at the Mission campus is open until 4 p.m. on Fridays, but closes at 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Vicky Salcido uses the computer lab because she does not own a computer. She admits that many night students don’t like to use the lab after their class ends but she says, “There are some times you need it.”

The Ocean campus Student Health Center is open until 6 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday evening so students can stop by before classes start at 6:30 p.m..

“Nights are not convenient,” said Sunny Clark, associate dean and clinic director. “We have tried many years ago, and frankly it was a waste of money. We were paying good money for someone to sit and read a novel,” Clark says.

According to Clark, with the current opening times the Student Health Center strives to help the most students possible while operating on a strict budget.

The bookstore at the Ocean campus is open late during the first two weeks of school, but closes at 7 p.m. during the rest of the semester.

“There’s always a couple of people who can’t make it. I’m sorry for that,” bookstore floor supervisor Edward Vallecillo said. He also said business at the store is usually slow in the evening. At the downtown campus, like other satellite campuses, the bookstore is also open until 7 p.m., which allows students to purchase books before their classes begin.