Thiruvananthapuram: The ‘campus@24’ event – organized by Kerala University researchers’ union on Kariavattom campus – concluded on a positive note on Thursday morning. All night long it was a united stand with hundreds of students, majority of them women, seeking the long-pending demand for extending hours for facilities like library and laboratories on campus.The event could reinforce the demand put forward by scholars that the campus library should be open for 24 hours a day and science labs should function to suit their requirement. Though central library functions till midnight now, labs and department libraries close by 5.30 pm.According to research students’ union chairman Vishnu KP, university authorities responded positively when the need to implement a 24-hour campus was raised. “We presented the idea to vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor and registrar and received favourable responses. They are willing to implement the system. Our main objective is to enhance the accessibility of students in using university facilities without restrictions,” he said.Najeeb S, former senate member of Kerala University and research scholar on campus, said that unlike affiliated colleges, the residential campus at Kariavattom which works 365 days a year should offer 24-hour access.“Most research work requires extensive use of labs and library. As it is easier to get in touch with teachers during the day, the 24-hour access can provide more time for students. We don’t have the option now as our labs and department libraries close by 5-5.30pm. As a result, we are forced to work at labs, libraries and interact with guides within a limited time. If the 24-hour system becomes a reality, we can extend research activities considerably,” he said.Kerala University VC VP Mahadevan Pillai said that the request was quite understandable. “There are issues like infrastructure, security and staff shortage to implement such a change quickly. The issue has been taken up by the university and we are currently assessing the situation,” said Pillai, who was the head of opto electronics department a few week ago.Not only students, faculty members too support the change. Seema Jerome, assistant professor in Malayalam department felt that time limits were a thing of the past. “University students have a global perspective in academics and personality. They should have an atmosphere to sit and discuss anything. By putting a time restriction, we are denying them this opportunity. Kerala University – which is home to hundreds of global perspectives – should change,” she said.The campus@24 event concluded with an academic debate and poets’ gathering on Thursday morning. The festival which began at 10am on Wednesday was wound up by 10am on Thursday.

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