We Matter Here: Behind the Scenes of Our Fight for 24/7 Library Access at VIU
Over the past few months, the VIU Students’ Union has been working relentlessly behind the scenes to push for the restoration of 24/7 access to the VIU Library. Students have spoken - loudly and clearly - with more than 1200 of you signing our petition (and counting!) to bring this service back. Our goal is to reach 2,000 students in support, and with your help, we’re getting there.
Here’s a look at what’s been happening behind the scenes, the progress we’ve made, and the barriers we’re still working to break through.
The Advocacy So Far…
Since the launch of the We Matter Here campaign, we’ve emphasized that 24/7 library access isn’t a luxury - it’s a necessity. For students who rely on the library as a safe, accessible, and quiet place to study, especially during peak academic periods, the current 1:00am closure just doesn’t cut it.
February 6: Meeting to Discuss Library
We met with VP Students Carolyn Russell and University Librarian David Alexander to express students’ urgent need for round-the-clock library access. At that time, we were told that a risk assessment was underway and that we would be consulted before any decisions were made. Unfortunately, we’re still waiting.
March 14: A Formal Letter from VIUSU to VIU Leadership
We sent a detailed letter to VIU’s senior administration team including President Deborah Saucier, Associate VP Academic and Provost Michael Quinn, VP Students Carolyn Russell, and VP Administration and CFO Emily Huner.
We acknowledged the short-term extension of library hours during exams but made it clear:
Temporary changes are not enough
Students have been excluded from the decision-making process
The current hours create serious issues for those without late-night transit options
There has been no transparency around the status of the risk assessment
The rationale for the decision has shifted from safety concerns to resource allocation without explanation
We urged the administration to release the risk assessment, involve students in future decisions, and restore 24/7 library access.
March 20: VIU Responds
VP Students Carolyn Russell replied to our letter, stating:
The risk assessment is ongoing, with no timeline for completion
No other post-secondary institutions in BC offer 24-hour access
The extended exam hours are a “goodwill gesture”
VIUSU has not been willing to have further meetings
This response was disappointing and, in some parts, misleading.
March 31: VIUSU’s Response
We responded with a clear message:
Decisions about critical student services must involve students
The way meetings have been conducted has not respected the student voice
The hour extension to 1:00am is not a real solution
Comparing VIU to lower standards at other institutions does not justify reduced services
The original closure was due to external factors (e.g. the Palestinian Solidarity Encampment), not safety or budget
We still have no timeline for the risk assessment
We’ve asked specific questions which we continue to wait for answers:
When will the risk assessment be complete?
Will students be involved or surveyed?
Will the results be shared publicly?
What specific staffing/security needs are being cited?
We remain committed to dialogue with VIU Leadership, but it must be respectful, transparent, and meaningful.
Senate Presentation Postponed
On top of this, we also requested to present at VIU Senate to discuss the academic impacts of reduced library access. On March 25, our request was approved.
But on March 31—just days before the meeting—we were informed that, due to recent leadership changes, Acting President Emily Huner has requested more time to consider, and we have been removed from the Senate agenda.
We may be allowed to present at the following meeting, but this is not guaranteed.
This last-minute change is disheartening and continues the pattern of students being shut out of important conversations about our academic success.
Our Call to Action
We appreciate the exam-period extension, but we’re clear-eyed:
This is a band-aid solution
The student voice has been repeatedly ignored or sidelined
We still lack transparency and a timeline for next steps
We are calling on VIU to:
Restore 24/7 library access
Release the library risk assessment results
Consult with students before making decisions that affect us
What You Can Do
Sign the Petition: wematterhere.viusu.ca
Share it with friends, classmates, and instructors
Talk about it—in class, with your clubs, on campus, in the community, and at the dinner table
This campaign is about more than library hours. It’s about student voices, student safety, and student success.
We know change doesn’t happen overnight. But with persistence, solidarity, and your support, we can make sure VIU lives up to its promise to be a student-centred institution.
Because We Matter Here.
And we’re not going anywhere.
—
The VIU Students’ Union Executive Team
@viustudentsunion
