College students generally adore Labor Day weekend. It's an extra day to party, hang out with friends, etc.

However, I did not have quite the same experience with this long weekend. I had a huge research packet due on the Tuesday after Labor Day, and almost all of my resources needed to be photocopied pages of books.

I headed to the Norlin Library that Saturday, thinking I would be ahead by getting my homework done. Much to my surprise, the Norlin Library was closed all weekend long -- not just the Labor Day Monday!

As I was contemplating what to do and walking back, I saw people walking into the CU Recreation Center. The gym was open all weekend, but the library was not!

What kind of message is the university trying to send us? "Take this long weekend and get skinny, don't study!" The extra days off should be an extra study opportunity, to get ahead!

We pay thousands of dollars every year to go to CU-Boulder and yet we are denied access to the library on a long weekend. Why am I paying money to go to classes if studying isn't possible?

I think the university needs to realize the impacts of closing the library. I want to get the best education, and getting good grades involves studying.

We as students should not be denied opportunities to succeed!

Jill Rittersbacher

CU student