Security concerns college house

When a resident of Modern Language House returned from classes earlier this semester to find an intruder in his room, security suddenly became an issue for the small residence of about 80 students. "Whenever we have anyone who breaches our security, we are concerned," Robert Lavizzo-Mourey, assistant director of the academic program in residence said yesterday. "We're in the process of scheduling a meeting with members of the residence [concerning security measures]," he added. "We haven't made any decisions about changes. We want to make sure the residents, faculty and staff are happy with the new situation." The present security system inside Modern Language House consists of a desk with a staff member who is supposed to check students' identification. There are no card readers or turnstiles in the lobby as there are in other dormitories. "The problem is some students aren't very eager show their cards," Peter Steiner, faculty master of Modern Language House, said this week. "They think that they see the same people at the desk every day and those people should know them." Steiner added that the attendants at the desk then get into the habit of not checking student IDs. He said that one of the reasons the trespasser got into the building was because he "looked like a college student." "That sort of offense doesn't happen very often," Steiner added. "This isn't an open house. We do have attendants at the desk 24 hours a day." David Miller, administrative fellow of Modern Language House, said he does not think that the building's security is a "serious problem." "It's a very efficient [security] system -- if everybody does their job," Miller said this week. "By that I mean, if students show their IDs and if the [attendants] check them." But College sophomore Sophia Van, a resident of Modern Language House, said that she did not think the present security system was effective. "The guards don't check your cards. Sometimes, they don't even look at you when you go by," Van said. "I mean, we're paying these people to work at the front desk. They should do their jobs." "It really worries me that just about anyone can get into the building," Van said. Nisha Merchant, another resident of the house, said she also thinks a card reader should be a part of security. "I think it's enough to have a card reader," Merchant said last night. "I think it's enough to have something preventive like that." Lavizzo-Mourey said that some sort of upgraded security will be installed in the building, but that it is up to the residents to decide what measures will be taken. "I'm sure that something will be done to increase security," Lavizzo-Mourey said. "I can't say exactly what at this point, but something will be done."