UBC residence to no longer be staffed overnight, students concerned about safety

The University of British Columbia has reportedly announced that its residence front desks will not be staffed at night, a decision that UBC Associate VP of Housing Andrew Parr explained stems from staffing challenges. The university will instead have an overnight mobile team available between 11 PM and 7 AM to respond to calls for assistance. Access to amenities overnight will also change. Some students and student representatives have voiced their concerns about the impact of the change on student safety. “If a student is experiencing an issue within their residence, it’s much easier to go to the front desk and receive immediate help and access than waiting for however long it takes to call the mobile overnight team or campus security,” said UBC Alma Mater Society VP Kamil Kanji.