7A - Testing the Hypothesis

The Opportunity: All too often, when studying alone at UF libraries, students are fearful to leave their belongings even for the few short minutes when they go to the bathroom because they don't want their expensive books, computers, and other school supplies to be stolen.  

The who: Students at UF that study at the library.

The what: They are fearful of leaving their belongings unattended while gone for a few minutes.

The why: Theft is all too common of an occurrence at the UF libraries and students are weary of this. 

Testing the who: There are others that share this need.  All students that UF that don't study in groups (which is a lot) of people have this need.  Everyone goes to the bathroom at some point, and leaving for just a couple of minutes can be the difference between thousands of dollars in personal belongings lost. 

Testing the what: I think that the "what" of this problem is not trying to stop theft.  No matter what the University does to try to defer theft, it will still be a reoccurring problem and they will find new ways to steal.  I think that the desks are the problem and there's a way to make them more secure. 

Testing the why: The reason why people have this need is because it is a known occurrence to have belongings stolen and computers and textbooks are far too expensive to leave them out in the open.  

Interview 1: For my first interview, I spoke with an undergraduate student that is a freshman and when asked how he felt about leaving his belongings out in the open in the library when he had to go to the bathroom very briefly and he explained to me that he heard of things being stolen and he literally packs up his bag every time he goes to the bathroom.  He doesn't focus well when he studies with others so this is his only option to have peace of mind when leaving to use the restroom. 

Interview 2: I spoke with someone who works at the front desk of the library and watches how students leave their belongings unattended and they explained to me that they only work on the first floor, which means that on every other floor, the same things are happening except on all the other floors where there isn't someone working there.  She knows the possibilities of leaving belongings out like this and wishes there was a way to secure them.  

Interview 3: This interview was with an older student in their junior year who explained that they make sure to study with at least one other person so that they can ask them to watch their things while they go refill a water bottle or use the restroom.  They explained how some of the libraries at UF are so crowded and full of so many different types of people that it's hard to feel comfortable leaving your valuables out in the open. 

Interview 4: I spoke with a student who doesn't even study at the library anymore because she didn't feel safe leaving her belongings out in the open when getting up for a quick few minutes.  She understands that theft happens very often and she likes to move around a lot when she studies.  She now studied at home so she can leave without worrying about her things. 

Interview 5: This student told me how he just leaves his computer and textbooks out when he goes to the bathroom and hopes that there are enough people around to deter a thief from stealing anything.  He admits that he just leaves his things based off of good faith and hoping no one would do something but understands that this is not always the case. 

Throughout each of my 5 interviews, I found that I actually had a pretty good understanding of this opportunity because I have realized the problem myself multiple times while studying and not knowing what to do when I had to take a bathroom break and risk leaving my things out in the open.  From these interviews, I learned that a lot of students had the same feelings and didn't know what to do either.