View Of Campus From The 5th Floor Of O’Brien Hall The Xavierite
This week, the editorial board got together to talk about the nightlife at SXU, an aspect of the culture that many forget to consider.
While there is a lot to do at SXU during the day, being a commuter-focused school, the environment of the campus at night is often glanced over by students.
Even still, with hundreds of residents living at SXU throughout the year, the nightlife of the campus is an important aspect of the culture.
Safety must be a priority in any environment, especially on a college campus.
Public Safety has officers on patrol throughout the night and a 24/7 emergency line that students and staff can call in case of an emergency.
While some members of the board feel SXU is a safe space at night, one member said that, “There have been instances where I was not safe at night on campus and I wish someone was there to help. I don’t think public safety has done enough to make sure everyone is safe at night. I wish there were more people patrolling around.”
Multiple members of the board noted that for women, it’s hard to feel protected in most spaces and that they don’t feel SXU does enough to ensure their security specifically.
There was also the issue raised of SXU being an open campus. As one board member remarked, “ I feel like anyone can walk on campus during the night and no one will bat an eye.”
Likewise, the campus is either more chaotic or laid back at night depending on the day.
“I find other students exhausted and trying to get through the day the later the time. We’re all just trying to complete what needs to be done, other times it’s more laid back and we’re just hanging out around each other,” another member said.
Another editor said, “I honestly believe that people act ‘crazier’ and less mature at night.” and made reference again to their safety concerts.
One board member noticed that sports games contribute a lot to the liveliness of the campus.
Even tough the diner closes at 7PM, it seems getting food on campus isn’t much of a hassle.
One editor said, “There are always convenient options such as Starbucks and Rhubarbs, which has a few items from the diner menu stored in refrigerators. You can even find grocery items such as bread, frozen foods, fruits, etc.”
Another board member said, “Even though Rhubarbs has plenty of options for food, the high cost of the items is really taxing.”
Another editor specifically avoids Rhubarbs to save money on their meal plan.
When it comes to nighttime memories, for the board, most of them come from spending time with the small groups they’ve fostered within the larger Saint Xavier community.
“Most of my fond memories come straight from Xavierite,” one editor wrote.
“It’s a very homey environment alongside everyone at the media center so that, despite it being simple, is definitely very warming and precious to me.”
Other editors said that they look back fondly on the time they spent watching movies and pulling all-nighters with friends.
Since it is after hours, there aren’t many services offered on campus either. While the Shannon Center and Warde Academic Center do stay open late, almost all staff members are out of the office by 5 PM.
One editor said this makes it hard to accomplish certain tasks in the evening, since they may need a staff members help or advice.
“I understand everyone ahs to go home eventually, it would just be nice if certain offices were more accessible in the evening,” they said.
Productivity takes a dive at night, but board members are still able to accomplish some of the days tasks before going to bed.
“Nights are usually like quiet hours as there’s not much going on, which can mean there’s nothing else to do but homework,” one editor noted, while another said.
“After the day is done and distractions die down is when I’m able to focus best.”
Sleeping is a great experience for the board though, as two members love their dorm rooms and the beds they sleep on.
One editor said that they’ve “come to love my bed at the dorm much more than my bed at home,” and finds it difficult to sleep when they return home over breaks.
Overall, the board prefers SXU during the day, since there’s more to do and it feels safer. While SXU at night is a much different experience, some of the core values of the community are still carried over from the daytime. Even still, at night security feels absent, and it’s much harder to be social.
One board member suggested that some of the issues could be solved with a student center.
They said, “It’s hard to keep the energy alive at night when there’s so few spaces, but having a student union on camus would make for more creativity.”