Masters Reject Universal Access

Undergraduate Council members have renewed efforts to obtain 24-hour universal key card access in all undergraduate houses, but the attempt has been stonewalled by house masters.

Citing safety and convenience as principal concerns, council members met with house masters over the past few weeks to discuss extending hours.

But house masters, on whom the decision ultimately falls, opposed the measure, fearing access would compromise security.

Universal access to houses is currently limited to the hours between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.

"If you drop an ID card, then anyone who picks it up [could] have access to any one of the houses," said Leverett House Master John E. Dowling.

Dowling said access would amplify late night traffic in the house, increasing the chance for dangerous incidents.

But many house masters did approve of council plans for partial 24 hour access.

In this arrangement, all undergraduates will be able to access the front door or designated doors of many houses but will be denied access to individual entryways.

Students who feel threatened late at night will be able to find refuge in house lobbies or designated entryways but will not be able to access other entryways or hallways.

However, council members worry that students will not be able to find the designated entryway if they are in danger.

"You lapse into that problem of knowing what door it is," said council Vice President Mark A. Price '98. "When you're in danger and you swipe the card and get that red light, you're in a lot of trouble."

Lowell House Master William H. Bossert says a universal access plan is hard to devise because houses differ in entrance design.

"We were willing to go along [with front door access] because of the architectural features of Lowell House," Bossert said.

"We have three locked doors between a student's bed and the outside world. It's okay for us if we open one--we still have two left," he said. "But I think there are buildings where such a thing would be a danger."

Kirkland House, for example does not have a front door, and 24 hour access would let students directly into residential areas of the house.

Council members also said that convenience is also a big factor for their support of key-card access.

Because of randomization, there are more students going between houses to visit friends, said council member and Currier House resident Sarah K. Hurwitz '99.

"It is really inconvenient and not fair for people who have been randomized far from their friends," Hurwitz said.

But Dowling said students can simply let friends into their houses.

"It's not terribly inconvenient to go down to the entryway to let them in," he said.

Several house masters said 24 hour universal access was especially dangerous because students often disregard safety issues.

"I think very few students take the necessary precautions in an urban environment," Bossert said.

Students often do not lock their doors and are too willing to let strangers into entryways, Bossert said.

But universal key card access will increase safety by making students more aware, said council member and Quincy House resident Michael A. O'Mary '99.

"Right now, if a student asks me to let him into a building, I don't think twice," O'Mary said. "With universal key card access, if a student asks me, an alarm immediately goes off in my head."

Dowling said he has had several incidents with non-House residents coming into the house late in the evening and disturbing residents.

"Although I don't think these instances will be very frequent, they are troublesome enough that we wouldn't want to open up the possibilities," he said.

Although the masters did not take a formal vote at their last monthly meeting, Dowling said they reached a consensus that they were against loosening current restrictions on key card access.

"Most of us feel that this system is working well," Dowling said. "There is no reason for 24 hour access if we can provide safe haven [through limited access].

"It's not terribly inconvenient to go down to the entryway to let them in," he said.

Several house masters said 24 hour universal access was especially dangerous because students often disregard safety issues.

"I think very few students take the necessary precautions in an urban environment," Bossert said.

Students often do not lock their doors and are too willing to let strangers into entryways, Bossert said.

But universal key card access will increase safety by making students more aware, said council member and Quincy House resident Michael A. O'Mary '99.

"Right now, if a student asks me to let him into a building, I don't think twice," O'Mary said. "With universal key card access, if a student asks me, an alarm immediately goes off in my head."

Dowling said he has had several incidents with non-House residents coming into the house late in the evening and disturbing residents.

"Although I don't think these instances will be very frequent, they are troublesome enough that we wouldn't want to open up the possibilities," he said.

Although the masters did not take a formal vote at their last monthly meeting, Dowling said they reached a consensus that they were against loosening current restrictions on key card access.

"Most of us feel that this system is working well," Dowling said. "There is no reason for 24 hour access if we can provide safe haven [through limited access].