By ERIN BASS

Staff Writer

The fifth floor of Prescott Memorial Library will become a silent study floor for students at Tech.

Starting Dec. 1, separate cubicles and more tables will be set up throughout the floor to give students more individual space.

Jared Moss, a senior biology major, said the initiative to try to get a silent floor started in a biology class when the professor probed the class for comments or suggestions around campus.

"Any time I needed quiet time to study I would go to the library," Moss said.

"Then a study group came and made just enough noise for me to get distracted."

But with a little encouragement from Dr. Larry Sellers, a professor of biological sciences, and D'eane Sheehan, an instructor of biological sciences, Moss decided to take action.

"[A silent floor] was something I always wanted to see done," Moss said.

"Then a lot of students really empathized with me, and I thought it might be an issue that could be brought to the Student Government Association."

Moss, who is also the applied and natural sciences senator, proposed the idea in the Oct. 19 meeting.

The referendum passed uncontested and opened the door for Moss to ask the permission from the library directors.

Moss said the whole process took about three weeks.

Michael DiCarlo, associate director of libraries, said they were glad to accommodate students with a silent study floor.

"The idea of quiet libraries has gone away in the past few years," DiCarlo said. "I think it should be popular with the wireless Internet advantages the floor has as well."

But the designation of a silent floor never promises complete peace.

Drew Norowski, a senior biomedical engineering major, said he usually comes to the fifth floor of the library in the middle of the day and does not ever have a concentration problem.

"Maybe once in the past three years have I ever had a problem with people being too loud, and when they were, I just moved up a floor," Norowski said.

"I don't think just because they designate a quiet floor that people will necessarily be quiet."

Walter Wicker, director of libraries, said students will still be allowed to access the library materials on the fifth floor but hopes students can do so without disrupting others who may be studying.

"There will also be a sign at the entrance to the library stating that the fifth floor will be a quiet study floor," Wicker said.

"The quiet floor will have to be self-monitored, as the library does not have enough personnel to monitor the floor."

Wicker said it is the student's responsibility to confront any other students who may be a disruption.

Moss said if students cannot respect the new silent floor and its purpose, the SGA will have to take action.

"I hope students will be able to respect the fact that it is a silent floor.

It was student's who took the initiative so other students could have a peaceful study area to go to," Moss said.

Wicker said groups needing to study together can continue to use the group study rooms or the tables on the second and third floors of the library.