Editorial: Post Office Needs to be the Whole Package

By The Editorial Board

On the front of the James Farley Post Office in New York, an inscription reads “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” Here at Rose Hill, late afternoons seem to stay the delivery of students’ mail.

A regulation post office holds hours from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Fordham’s post office hours are Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Given the hectic nature of the average college student’s schedule, it would seem logical that the post office on a college campus would have more hours, rather than less. Is Saturday at 7 a.m. the most convenient time for students to pick up mail? Wouldn’t it be helpful for the mailroom to be open during dinner hours on a weekday, when many students are in the McGinley Center?  It is quite common to see long lines at the package pick-up window in between classes, as students attempt to pick up packages from the small window in McGinley basement.

Package processing time is also an issue. Anyone who has attempted to receive an overnight package realizes that “overnight” is not really overnight, as the package has to be processed and can only be picked up during the pick-up window hours. Most students also have stories of lost mail, mail going to the wrong PO box and other mix ups. Last year, many students were unable to vote because so many absentee ballots were lost. A lot of these problems seem to stem from the very nature of the post office space in McGinley.

Further, the room is very small and crowded. The post office clearly needs more space and more staff in order to keep up with demand. Also the expansion of operating hours to be more in line with a normal post office would be beneficial.

Additionally, students shouldhave their own post office (PO) boxes, and should keep the same box for all of their time at Rose Hill. Changing addresses constantly is a pain for students and seems to result in a fair amount of lost mail. Students also may feel uncomfortable sharing boxes with roommates that they may or may not know that well. We trust our fellow students, but students deserve to know sensitive documents like checks and passports will be secure.

Unfortunately, students really have only one option for mail on campus, and that option needs to be a fully functioning post office. Students need to be able to receive financial documents, contact lenses, mail-order medications and other necessities during their time away from home.   Mail needs to arrive on time and not get lost, the post office should be able to provide all the normal services that a post office normally does and students should not have to share a PO box.

In order to provide these necessary services, it seems that the post office and its staff need access to more resources from the university. They need a bigger space, more employees and more efficient practices to serve the needs of students who rely and depend on their services.