Milne library (pictured above) was closed at the beginning of the spring 2020 semester, leading some to think not having the study space is what has caused such a high increase in average GPA for the semester (Xavier Delcid/Photo Editor).
According to a press release from Geneseo administration, this semester is on track to have the highest student grades seen in the past decade. In the press release, President Denise Battles attributed it to the Geneseo student body and the closure of Milne Library.
“There has been a significant increase in GPA this semester compared to semesters in the past,” Battles said in the press release. “This shows that despite the harsh inconveniences that have affected the school, our students continue to persevere and succeed.”
The administration attributes Milne Library’s closure as one of the major forces that paved the way for this achievement.
“Whereas in prior semesters, all of the student body spent the majority of their Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in the library, Milne’s closure forced students to adapt to new circumstances, and they utilized them in the best ways possible,” Battles said.
The press release also stated that among the many controversies surrounding Geneseo this past year, such as administration allegedly taking over a student’s parody Twitter account and the power outage in North Side Residence Halls, the closure of Milne has had the greatest effect on both student morale and success. Additionally, the administration noted that while the COVID-19 pandemic halted in-person classes and switched to online lectures as the new medium for teaching, this did not contribute to the GPA increase.
“Despite what many have thought, including those in the SUNY administration, the implementation of and transition to online classes have in no way been linked to the GPA increase,” Celia Easton, the Dean of Academic Planning and Advising, said. “Rather, we have correlated the increase to the closure of Milne. Compared to other similarly sized SUNY schools, Geneseo has by far seen the largest increase in GPA, despite the closure of its library. That cannot be said for any of the other schools we looked at.”
In fact, Easton said the transition to online classes only strengthens the argument that not having a library enhances student performance in college.
“The strong performances the SUNY system has seen with an increase in student GPA exemplifies what Geneseo has seen with the closure of Milne,” Easton said. “Without access to a library, student success is enhanced.”
Among the largest improvements, students involved in Greek life and varsity sports saw an average increase of 2.9 points in their current semester GPAs as compared to their previous semester GPAs.
This recently discovered information has led to a movement growing in popularity within the college administration to call for the closure of Milne altogether.
“We would save copious amounts of money that goes into the maintenance of the library and could use that money to target specific Geneseo needs,” Battles said. “For example, the money that goes into the library could be used to update the very outdated North Side electric panels, but we think it would be better utilized for something else.”
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Mike Mooney, who is a self-proclaimed Milne closure advocate, said that funds saved from its closure would go directly back to the student body.
“The money freed from Milne’s closure is invaluable,” Mooney said. “The savings it would provide each year could equip numerous athletic teams. Additionally, we could convert the clearly obsolete library into a new training center for the Geneseo athletes.”
In fact, there has been a growing coalition of supporters within the SUNY system who have begun to advocate for the dismantling of the SUNY library system. This comes after seeing the success SUNY Geneseo has had with its closure of Milne.
Furthermore, many athletic directors around the SUNY system have voiced their support for Mooney’s proposal to renovate and convert the existing libraries into training centers for their athletes.
“This will be game changing for the SUNY system,” an athletic director, who wished to remain anonymous, said.
Disclaimer: This is a satirical piece