Dorm security continues to be upgraded, director says

Johnson says propped doors could lead to necessity of dorm entry logs

By Martha Martinez

Strategic planning has slowly upgraded security in the dorms over the past few years and will continue, Director of Housing Karen Johnson said Tuesday.

Safety is stressed to students who live on campus in order to avoid incidents where their safety may be at stake.

“ Anytime something is published, there is going to be heightened awareness,” Johnson said, referring to the rape charges made by a student in Baker Hall earlier this month. The charges were later withdrawn.

“ I don’t think it’s different from any other situation,” Johnson said. “I continue to meet with students who express concerns.”

Resident Krista Skidgel said she is comfortable with the security levels in the dorms, but is concerned that the first floor is the only floor that is locked in the buildings.

Johnson said locking all floors in the buildings was proposed as an increased measure for security, although increased security could make it harder for students living in the dorms to mix and mingle.

“ We don’t want to make it a prison,” Johnson said.

Any residents with concerns can meet with Johnson or other staff members. If complaints are regarding security, they are addressed immediately, she said.

Public Safety Assistants are the eyes and ears in the evening Johnson said.

PSAs walk the grounds in pairs during the evening and are responsible for checking doors that may be propped, and patrolling buildings and parking lots G, F and E, which are nearest the dorms. They also provide escort service and document any disturbances they encounter.

PSAs have direct communication with campus police through radio.

Johnson said PSAs are trained by campus police to learn c odes for the radio. The department of housing trains PSAs for two weeks on crisis intervention, mediation and listening skills.

But not all students feel that PSAs are focusing on the correct issues.

Baker Hall resident Diana Dotson said PSAs should focus on more important things around the dorms, such as safety, rather than noise that residents make.

Doors in the dorms are operated through a key-card system. The system was installed when the dorms were remodeled in 1994.

Johnson said the key-card system is an important tool because it is able to access records and able to track who entered the rooms last. During an investigation, computerized information in the system will be able to tell when housekeeping, staff or a roommate entered the room.

A key-card system is sometimes not enough to keep those who do not live in the dorms out of the buildings.

“ We can have the best security in place. We can have an alarm. We can have all the great things for the students, but there are always ways to get around things,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s first order of duty as director in 1994 was enforcing a 24-hour lock down on buildings. Exterior doors to buildings were kept unlocked until 7 p.m.

Resident Katie Schmidt said the suites are safer to live in than community style dorms. Schmidt said residents leave doors propped and people who do not live in the area enter the buildings.

Propped doors are not seen as often as in the past, Johnson said. If the problem continues, Johnson said an extreme proposition could be enforced in order to control who enters the buildings.

A staff member or PSA would have to log every person that entered the buildings. The only entrance that would be open to residents would be the main entrance. Johnson said if measures call for the proposition to be enforced, it will require a lot of work.

Johnson said residents express concerns constantly. If the concern is beyond a meeting, campus police become involved.

Through a contract that housing and campus police have, rotation of police officers are designated to the dorms.

“ We work together,” Johnson said. “Safety is our number one priority.”