SGA opens 24-hour study space in the UCF arena

It's 2 a.m. and finals are approaching. Your roommates won't shut up. You've tried the library but it's cramped beyond capacity. The same goes for the student union and the fancy new televisions along with the smell of greasy Burger King are too distracting anyway.

Lucky for you, the Student Government Association has solved your problem in the knick of time with the opening of The All Knight Study, a 24-hour study space on the left side of the UCF arena.

Today President Kilbride and Gary Bruckner, the project coordinator for SGA, cut the ribbon for the grand opening of the study space around 3:15 p.m., marking the completion of one of Kilbride's big projects as student body president.

Since its soft opening on March 31, All Knight Study was only open from 9 a.m. Sundays to 9 p.m. Fridays. However, at the ribbon cutting ceremony Kilbride announced that starting Monday, April 25 All Knight Study will become a 24-7 operation. 

SGA partnered with the Convocation Corporation, which owns and operates he residential housing towers, to secure the space for the next 7 years rent. Student government secured the funds for its construction, and only has to worry about paying the staff, according to Kilbride.

SGA allocated $160,000 to the construction of the All Knight Study space.

"We were able to provide a greatly needed space. We have study rooms, the group study area, all things students are looking for more of," he said. "This north end has kind of grown with everything out here and we don't see a lot of heartbeat for students like we have at the union. This creates additional space for student that live out here and we've now given these students a 24-hour option."

As far as numbers go, the space has remained pretty busy since it's inception according to Kilbride and The All Knight Study staff.

"I walked by last week around 3:30 a.m. and you couldn't find a seat inside," Kilbride said. "The demands we are seeing here is above and beyond our expectations."

So far, about 10,567 students have used the study space.

SGA began this project over a year ago based on complaints from students that there weren't enough safe places to study. An empty, unused area in the arena became the ideal spot for the new space, fully equipped with new carpets, 13 computers with wireless connection, a large group study lounge, two group study rooms and a small quiet area lounge.

Kilbride said students can feel safe since security guards patrol that entire area and security cameras will be installed in the near future. Also, he said, two employees will be there at all times.

Katie Austin, a sophomore micro and molecular biology major, has visited the space about 2-3 times per week since its inception and finds it useful for the amount of studying she has to do.

"I really like the atmosphere here," she said. "I study a lot so I'm grateful to have this space."