Drive around campus in the wee hours of the morning and you'll see signs of life everywhere. Lights are on in dorm rooms, clusters of students crouch over books, some hardy souls are even out jogging. Truth is, the hours between midnight and 2 a.m. are prime time on the Farm. A survey conducted by the University last year found that the average bedtime for students is 2:31 a.m.
Now, as part of a pilot project called "Stanford After Midnight," several campus facilities have brought their hours into line with the way students live. Throughout winter quarter, campus spots -- including the Coffee House, the Ford Center gym, the fitness center at Tresidder Memorial Union and the Computer Lair -- stayed open most days of the week until 2 a.m. Eventually, a portion of Meyer Library will be open around the clock.
Stanford's move to extend the hours of campus facilities is part of a national trend, says Marc Wais, dean of students. One reason: alcohol. Universities want to make more booze-free activities available to students. Administrators plan to review the response to the tryout and see if the change is justified. They will adjust hours as appropriate.
Some students already have embraced the initiative. "It's definitely going to keep me on campus more," says Nick Grossman, a junior urban studies major, listening to a band at the Coffee House after midnight one night in January. "I mean, most people's bedtime is past 12 -- the average for my friends is probably 3 a.m." Freshman Debby Soo, leaving Tresidder's fitness center at 12:30 a.m., says the extended hours mesh with her workout schedule. "Last quarter, I probably came here a total of seven times," she says. "This quarter, I've already been here seven times." And the night is still young.
