Law building lacks utility

Editorial

O ver a year after we moved into the Rafael Diaz-Balart building, there are still no benches in any of its two beautiful courtyards. There are a few scattered tables and chairs in the north courtyard that enterprising students have dragged outside from the student cafeteria. But aside from those, and the patches of grass for the earthy types, there is still nowhere to sit. The south courtyard is even more barren.

The north courtyard is accessible through the west doors leading out of the cafeteria. However, it is not accessible from the east, using the doors leading out of the Grand Atrium. In one mystifying twist of poor management, a student could exit the cafeteria to the north courtyard enter back into the building through the east doors and head to the library. But, if once that student enters the library, she were to realize she had forgotten a book in the cafeteria, she would not be able to retrace her steps because she couldn’t exit to the north courtyard through the east doors, which, curiously, only appear to allow students in but not out of the building.

And finally, there’s the balcony area surrounding the Grand Reading Room, where some doors even have police tape on them. It would only make sense that the balcony be accessible to a student who wants a quick break from studying, or needs to take a phone call, or just breathe some fresh air. Alas, for reasons which are either incomprehensible, nonsensical, or nonexistent, the area is locked off.

It’s been a year and a half since we moved into the building and it still feels under construction. What’s the hold up?