A Friday noon closing on the Bakersfield College campus is the latest change resulting from California’s rising energy costs. A college decision was made this summer so that BC can save money.
“The closure is expected to save up to $32,000 in energy costs,” said Brent Rush, public information specialist at BC.
“We have seen a lot of rate increases over the last year, so that number will do nothing but go higher,” he said. “That’s the bare minimum of savings over this next school year.”
Economics were a major factor in the Friday noon closure decision, according to Rush.
“Bakersfield College is an industrial classisfication when it comes to power, so we get hit with the largest increases by PG&E, higher than residential or anything else, so the closure on Friday afternoons is just one way to recoup a little bit of that (loss),” he said.
Lack of campus activity was also a large factor that Friday was chosen, Rush said.
“Friday afternoons there is not a lot of activity, there is not a lot of classes. Students generally don’t want to take classes on Friday afternoons or escpecially Friday night,” said Rush.
Among the campus services no longer being offered on Friday afternoon are Admissions and Records, the BC Bookstore, the library, the cafeteria and Supportive Services.
The effects of the Friday noon closure are being felt throughout the campus.
English professor Marci Lingo has mixed feelings about the closure.
“I suppose that I feel that if there is significant savings that it’s justified. I do feel that some accomodations need to be made, perhaps for things that really need to go on Friday afternoons. (For example) I now can’t participate in an English placement reading because it has to be on Friday morning and I teach Friday mornings,” said Lingo.
Students also are feeling the change in Friday’s new schedule, which began the second week of school.
BC student Alicia Cordova said she has had to make adjustments to her Friday afternoons.
“I used to go to the computer lab on Fridays after my last class,” she said. “But, I guess I will have to find some time on the weekend to go, even though I work.”
Rush said he has heard of no concerns about the new Friday hours.