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Brandeis University's Community Newspaper — Waltham, Mass.

Editorial: More efficient options than expanding Einstein’s

Published: December 7, 2012
Section: Editorials


Brandeis Operations announced this week that Einsteins would be open 24-7 Monday through Thursday and until 2 a.m. Friday. To our fellow students, and admittedly several members of this editorial board, the news was welcomed. It is heartening to think the university is trying to better accommodate the needs of students, who invest a lot in the school and yet often experience lacking amenities.

While our Facebook feeds erupted with exclamations of joy, we would like to offer some even better ideas for the university to better meet the serious dining problems this campus faces. No time is worse than weekends when students likely need the most nutrition. On Friday nights, half of Usdan is closed and Sherman closes at the absurdly early time of 7 pm. And on Saturday, the other half is open, with Einsteins closing soon after many students leave their rooms for the first time that day. Perhaps Einstein’s hours could have stayed the same for weekday nights, closing at 2 a.m., with the university expanding Usdan hours instead. While Usdan is likely more expensive, with more workers and equipment needed to function, an hour of Usdan on Friday night would undoubtedly be more profitable than many Einsteins morning hours.

Staying in the realm of Einsteins, perhaps a further extension of weekend hours would be more beneficial than the offering of bagels and coffee between 2 and 6 a.m. during the week. Einsteins closes particularly early on Fridays and Saturdays, at 4 and 3 p.m. respectively. If a change in hours happens at Einsteins, we feel it would make more sense to extend weekend hours, rather than staying open at 4 or 5 a.m. during the week.

The university has in recent years, coinciding nicely with the administration of President Fred Lawrence, offered an increase in the hours of various student services several times. The library is now open until 8 p.m. on Saturdays, two hours later than it had been a few years ago. The same is true of the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center, and the C-store is now open two hours later at night on the weekends, until 2 a.m.

All of these are great steps. The university would do well to continue to put student comfort and amenities high up on its priorities list. But while the Einsteins 24-hour plan is a wonderful symbol, perhaps the resources can be put to even better use at other locations.