Economy

Although long-winded emails from the administration have attempted to normalize the current learning environment, students are still standing in the rubble of March’s upheaval. As the public health crisis continues to unfold, instructors and students are expected to conduct and participate in classes on Zoom for another semester without blinking an eye. Some lack a safe and quiet place to study or teach, and many face difficulties with online learning. With unemployment rates higher than they were in the Great Depression, a worsening mental health crisis, and a raging pandemic, the challenges and stressors that developed in March have only intensified.

As more and more New Yorkers find themselves unemployed or desperately seeking funding to make ends meet amid the COVID-19 pandemic, New York City has struggled to support its rich arts and culture scene. As clubs, galleries, and music venues close across the city, artists and small businesses in Upper Manhattan lack access to resources, with self-employed artists and gig workers struggling the most.

Last week, when I stumbled upon a student playing the guitar on Broadway, his case open by his feet, I did a double take. I stared at him for a few seconds, and then shuffled away: Was he really asking for money from other students?

Thanks to the economy, those averse to long Butler evenings will soon have one fewer option, as Lerner Hall is slated to reduce its hours of operation. Caffeine addicts must kiss all-nighters in Café 212 and the second floor Lerner computer lab goodbye, as they will no longer be accessible 24/7.

Instead, the facilities—previously accessible through the lobby after the rest of the building's close—will shut down at 1:00 a.m. from Sunday to Wednesday, and 3:00 a.m. from Thursday to Saturday.

Executive Director of Lerner Hall Operations Honey Sue Fishman broke the news to student leaders in an e-mail message on Monday, explaining that "all departments and schools have been asked to identify opportunities to reduce expenses and lower the overall budget."

Echoing what administrators across the University have said since the recession's first signs, Fishman wrote that the goal is to save money by cutting back in ways that hurt the least.

The Lerner cutbacks, which, Fishman wrote, the administration green-lighted "after careful review and consultation with elected student representatives," will be effective July 1, 2009.

Further changes include the opening of Lerner one hour later, at 8:00 a.m. Additionally, the Package Center and Student Mail Services will open at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and will be closed on Saturdays.

But Lerner devotees might be able to see a silver lining: Despite the year-long cutbacks, the building will maintain its 24/7 schedule during reading week and finals.

See below for full text of e-mail:

"Dear Student Leaders:

The University continues to look for new ways to operate more efficiently. All departments and schools have been asked to identify opportunities to reduce expenses and lower the overall budget. Our goal is to make reductions with the least impact to academic business, student life and the broader campus community.

After careful review and consultation with elected student representatives, it has been determined that changing the operating hours and services of certain buildings will have a significant impact on efforts to contain costs across campus. Accordingly, effective July 1, 2009, the following changes will be made to Lerner Hall operations:

HOURS OF OPERATION
During the academic year, Lerner Hall will open one hour later. Academic year hours will be as follows:
Sunday – Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Thursday – Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m.

Currently, the building is operating on a summer schedule through September 8, 2009:
Sunday – Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 8: 00 p.m.

OFF-HOURS BUILDING ACCESS
Effective June 30 at 11:59 p.m., when the building closes at the end of each day, the entire building will officially be closed. There will no longer be access to the lobby from the campus entrance. As a result, the seating area in Café 212, the Citibank ATM and the 2nd floor computer lab will also be closed. This change will be in effect year-round.

READING WEEK AND FINAL EXAMS
Lerner Hall, including the computer lab, will be open 24/7 during the reading week and final exam period.

For up-to-date information about services in Lerner Hall and hours of operation, consult the website at www.columbia.edu/cu/lernerhall.

COMPUTER LABS
Hours of operation for computer labs in undergraduate residence halls and Butler Library 24-hour labs are unchanged. However, the Butler lab is currently operating on a summer schedule. To accommodate students seeking 24-hour computer use during the summer, the Carman Hall cluster will be open to Columbia University students from 8:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m. Students will be required to check their University ID card with Public Safety at the entrance for computer use.

Visit http://www.columbia.edu/acis/facilities/labs/locations.html for more information about computer lab locations and http://www.columbia.edu/acis/facilities/schedules/ for schedules.

PACKAGE CENTER AND STUDENT MAIL SERVICES
As another cost savings measure, the Package Center and Student Mail Services will now open at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Additionally, these businesses will no longer be open on Saturdays. For more information about the Package Center and Mail Services, visit www.mailservices.columbia.edu

We appreciate your understanding given these extraordinary economic circumstances. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know."

Guillermo Calvo has been teaching economic crises for years. Until recently, though, the professor of International and Public Affairs never thought his classroom lessons would be applicable to the United States' economy.

Months after the two presidential candidates came to campus to tout public service, increasing numbers of seniors are turning to such groups rather than exploring the job market.

As much as the rhetoric of a new America and a new American era resounds in politics, the years of American unipolarity are coming to a close. America is no longer the world leader in everything. China's economy is rapidly growing, as is Russia's military. Both countries could soon surpass us in those realms.

As the markets dither seven miles to the south, Columbia students are just beginning to feel the impact of America's economic crisis.