By Ashley Katusa
If you were irritated about the library’s food and drink ban during finals week, you were not alone. Many students were shocked when they could not bring their coffee into the library during the weekend of Dec. 12. Not only were students given a hard time, but some students were even barred from entering the library until they agreed to discard their food or beverage.
Hadas Richardson, FCRH ’18, explained how she tried to enter the library with a snack and covered drink. “Although this was in compliance with University policy,” she said, “the security guard confronted me, asked what I had with me and then told me I wasn’t allowed to have that in the library anymore.”
Richardson was not the only one who had this experience. Many students reported similar responses from the security guards.
As many students are aware of the university library policy on food and drink, they were up in arms about the sudden ban on activities that had previously been permitted.
“It was annoying to buy something that is usually allowed in the library, as per the school policy, and not be able to bring it in.” said Jessica Giugliano, FCRH ’18.
Many students took to social media to express their discontent, and others gave feedback to the library itself. Speculations about why the rule change occurred were numerous. Many attributed the perceived ban on food and drinks to a change in administration, a change in library policy without alerting students or a change in security guards.
However, Linda LoSchiavo, director of University Libraries, say: “There was no ban on food and drink during finals in December 2015.” The Fordham Library Food and Drink Policy during finals week was the same as outlined on the Fordham University website: “Covered beverages and small snacks are permitted in most areas of the libraries.” Rather than a ban on food and drinks, there was a misunderstanding.
LoSchiavo explained that many students were not adhering to this policy.
Maintenance found “half-eaten pizza in study rooms and fried rice on tables and chairs,” causing a rodent and vermin problem. LoSchiavo informed the security guards to act more vigilant, yet there was a misunderstanding; the weekend guards during Dec. 12 thought they were supposed to ban food and drink entirely. After being made aware of the situation, LoSchiavo contacted John Carroll, associate vice president for Public Safety, who then contacted the guards in the library and corrected the misunderstanding. Soon after, food and drinks compliant with the university policies were allowed back in the library.
In order to make sure a similar misunderstanding does not happen again, LoSchiavo implemented new signage (both hard copy and digital) within the library.
LoSchiavo makes it clear that she wants students to enjoy snacks and drinks in the library — as long as they are consistent with the university policy. She says, “I want students to be comfortable in the library and that includes having a beverage (in a spill-proof container) and a snack to help them get through the hours of studying,” she said, “Just be sure to leave the pepperoni pizza in the dorm.”
