The building is falling apart with no repairs in sight.
Issues at the McFarlin Library such as the broken shingles on the roof, the bottom floor flooding and the lack of adequate operating hours hinder the students at The University of Tulsa. Thus, the university must change its construction timeline and operating hours to accommodate current students and regain a respectable reputation.
Every day on my way to class, I look up and see the missing shingles on the roof of the library — the library that faces the city of Tulsa. As a student, I wonder how this poorly affects others’ view of the university, whether they are visitors, prospective students, university ranking officials or other current students. In my opinion, all universities must take adequate measures to remain well kept and modern to reflect that they are reliable and proficient institutions. Moreover, students want to be proud of the college they attend and feel like they are making a good financial investment. These feelings are not reinforced or reflected by the broken shingles on the roof. The roofing problem that has been ignored by the university lowers student morale; it makes students wonder if the university is effectively managing the money profited from the high tuition rates. Even with these consequences, the damage on the roof has yet to be dealt with.
In addition to the roof, the bottom floor of the McFarlin Library is damaged. The lowest level has been flooded since the spring of 2023 and has yet to be reopened. The bottom floor contains utilities and equipment crucial to student success such as a printer, a copier, a microfilm reader, U.S. Government Documents and study rooms. Access to information, appliances and study rooms is critical for student life and success. This unresolved problem brings about consequences similar to the roofing problem, whilst also hampering students academically.
The limited operating hours of the McFarlin Library further prevent students from reaching their academic potential. As of now, the library is open from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Based on the experiences of myself and fellow students, these operating hours work effectively and fit into students’ unique schedules. However, the operating hours for Friday, Saturday and Sunday leave students with busy schedules without a quiet place to study. On Friday, the library only stays open until 5 p.m. Additionally, on Saturday, it opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. and on Sunday, it opens at 1 p.m. and closes at 6 p.m. Furthermore, this year, until Sept. 9, the McFarlin Library was not even open on Saturdays. Since Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are all crucial days for a student’s academic life, the library should be open from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on all days of the week.
Overall, in order for students to succeed and to be highly regarded, The University of Tulsa must start construction on the bottom floor and roof of the library and increase library operating hours as soon as possible. By shifting their current financial focus, the university can achieve this goal. Shifts in finances such as reducing the daily landscaping to more effective uses of the university’s money will allow The University of Tulsa to hire construction workers and more library workers. Thus, the university can save its reputation and better assist current students.
