Elizabethtown College’s James B. Hoover Center for Business and Nicarry Hall buildings are now accessible to students 24 hours a day.

During the week, the buildings are secured from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Now, they can be accessed using the students’ ID cards during those hours.

The 24-hour access allows students to utilize computer labs and conference rooms for late-night studying sessions or group projects.

First-year political science and Spanish double major Sara Allocco said that she thinks this change will benefit students.

“My residence hall has study rooms and lounge areas, but they are often occupied as classes begin to work on group projects,” Allocco said. “Perhaps this change will be helpful to those who prefer to work in a classroom environment without as many distractions.”

Sophomore English major Rebecca Easton also said that the change will be helpful for students.

“I try to do my homework outside my room,” Easton said. “I do think there’s a security risk, but I think it’s beneficial for students as a whole.”

Campus Security has ensured that the buildings are safe spaces for studying.

The door access control system allows security officers to monitor who enters and exits all of the buildings.

Additionally, officers will regularly walk through the halls of the buildings at night.

Still, it is advisable to walk with a friend, use the LiveSafe App and avoid remote areas when exiting any building late at night.

Campus Security is available 24/7, and can be called at any time at 717-361-1111.

The idea for the 24-hour access was originally proposed by the Student Senate.

They recognized a need for students to have some place for studying after hours.

Nicarry and Hoover were chosen over the other academic buildings because they offer traditional classrooms, which are helpful for students in every major.

“The other buildings tend to be more specialized,” Campus Security Director Andrew Powell explained in an email interview. “[Campus Security was] more comfortable limiting the access of labs and other areas to the students who are studying in those majors.”

There is currently no intention to expand this policy to other academic buildings. The other buildings contain labs and specialized equipment specific to certain majors, and Campus Security didn’t see the need to open them to all students.

Instead, they determined that Nicarry and Hoover provide everyone with adequate rooms for studying regardless of their majors.

However, students can still use their ID cards to access any campus academic buildings over the weekend.

The rest of the academic buildings are open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturdays and from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Sundays.

Students who need to gain access to other buildings after hours can contact the chairs of the departments that are housed in the building to which they need access.

Nicarry Hall was built in 1972 with classrooms designed for the humanities.

The building was named after Wayne A. Nicarry, a Brethren minister and chairman of the College’s Board of Trustees from 1991 to 1996.

Nicarry has several rooms with computers, allowing students late-night access to printers as well as programs like Excel and Indesign. Having access to such programs is essential for some students.

“Some of us can’t download programs to our computers,” senior English major Colleen Wells explained. “It’s nice to have access to those programs.”

Hoover is a newer addition to the campus. It was built in 2006 and specifically designed to house the business department.

It is named after Etown graduate James B. Hoover.

Students can access several classrooms in Hoover both during the day and after hours.

In addition to classrooms, the building features several conference rooms.

These rooms will benefit clubs whose meetings are late at night and any groups of students who need a space hold a group study session or finish a project.