Loyalist students complain about after-hours access

Amanda Dobbins (left), Sarah Costa (centre), and Eric Metzloff (right) stand outside the edit suites reading the rules for evening access. Dobbins and Costa are very confused about the rules now after they were asked to leave the school this week by security. Photo by Austin McKay.

By Austin McKay

A student who says she was turned away from accessing a lab at Loyalist College on Monday has sparked a debate over late night accessing to the school.

Second year television new media (TVNM) student, Amanda Dobbin arrived at the school where she had plans to complete homework due the next day.

Dobbin started to sign in but was interrupted by security. The security guard asked Dobbin if she was on a list. Dobbin said she had no idea that there was a list.

The security guard asked Dobbin her name and program and then looked through a stack of papers. The guard told her she wasn’t on “the list” and could not come in.

“I just turned around and left. What else was I going to do? I had to come to the school at six in the morning to finish my homework,” said Dobbin.

Dobbin wasn’t the only one that had an issue with security and the list either.

This sign explains to students the rules for signing in and is posted around media wing. Photo by Austin McKay

Sarah Costa, a third-year TVNM student, was in the middle of a tutoring session when security came in the door. She siad the security guard proceeded to asked them to leave because they were not on “the list”.

“I had never even heard about this list, I was so confused,” said Costa.

Luckily for Costa, the security guard allowed her to continue after first-year TVNM student, Cameron Ansell made a stand.

Cameron went out in the hallway with the security guard.

“I told her no. I wasn’t leaving because I was allowed to be there,” said Ansell.

The students complained to their program coordinator. On Tuesday, meetings were held about the confusion over late-night access.

“The procedures have always been this way,” said Kirk Fleming, director of facilities services, following the meetings.

Chad Munday, academic manager of media art and design, says the same thing. Munday does agree that the confusion revolves around the list and is working towards fixing it.

“We are taking the complaints and are now trying to resolve the problem,” said Munday.