The impact of new security policies enacted following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will affect new and returning Ohio State students—especially those living in university housing. Before we begin griping about these new rules, we should consider the intent behind them, the concern for our well-being. In fact, we suggest OSU look to other colleges and universities for strategies to even further improve the safety of dorm life on campus.
Night assistants at the front desks of dorm rooms will not be checking student IDs until 11 p.m. now, as compared with 9 p.m. last year. All entrances to the specific dorm rooms where students live are now accessible 24 hours a day. These actions were brought about to keep students from propping doors open as well as to give them easier access to their own homes.
But even with these new electronic monitoring systems in place, the application and enforcement of the new standards must be proficient. It is foolish to assume these rules will always be enforced and followed no matter how tough they look on paper. Certain students will always try to bypass residence hall security, to sneak in contraband or to move around more quickly. Certain night assistants will always be more lax than others.
Perhaps Residence Life could enact security measures other universities have taken to prevent security problems. Miami University in Oxford has installed timed alarms on all doors which sound after being held open for too long. This would alert residence hall employees and definitely stop the alleged door proppers. It would also combat lax enforcement.
UCLA has an automated card-swiping system, allowing only valid university students and staff to enter the lobby of dorm buildings. A student must swipe the ID card again to enter the living quarters, helping to ensure only residents of that building, and their escorted guests, gain access to the living areas. A similar system is used at Bowling Green State University.
Trying to combat the problems of student security in such a large urban environment will always be a challenge. OSU’s and Residence Life’s policies must be the first line of defense students have against the criminal activity located in and around the campus area. It would also be in the university’s own interest to enact policies that eliminate its liability should any security problems arise.
These new policies were enacted to ease student mobility, but their first concern should be for safety. And though annoying at times, the security problems these policies prevent pay off if only one criminal act is prevented. Residence Life should constantly monitor the success of its policies, and quickly react to any problems that arise. The safety of the OSU student should remain a top priority at this university.
