Unlocking the Quad: UA backs security downgrade

The Undergraduate Assembly passed a proposal yesterday urging the Division of Public Safety, along with the Office College Houses and Academic Services, to make changes to the locked door policy in the Quadrangle.

Under the current policy, Quad residents must use keys to enter individual houses and bathrooms after undergoing initial security checks at the Upper or Lower Quad Gate entrances.

In the spring of 2003, locks were installed on the bathroom doors in the Quad. At the time, administrators said it was a necessary precaution designed to keep students safe.

"It's just a false sense of security," UA representative and Engineering freshman Dipal Patel said.

The UA proposed several possibilities, including unlocking all building doors except on weekend evenings when "rowdy visitors" are expected, or after 2 a.m., the time when visitors must sign in.

They further proposed designating a certain number of "public restrooms" and unlocking all bathrooms except for one women's bathroom within reasonable walking distance from each dorm room. This would give females an option if they wanted more privacy or security when showering.

UA members noted that if the University's goal was to give female students privacy in bathrooms, different keys should be distributed to each sex.

Quad college houses are the only dorms where individuals must pass through a two-tiered security system in order to enter a building, and a three-tiered security system in order to enter a bathroom. In King's Court/English House, Hill College House and the high rises, residents are only required to go through one security check to enter the building or use the bathrooms.

Patel said that the Quad's current system is pointless because students can move from house to house once inside the buildings.

Additionally, doors propped open in cold weather waste heat, and broken locks and doors cause further maintenance and security problems.

"The doors are supposed to be all locked, and they're not," Patel said.

The current policy also makes it difficult for students not living in the Quad to access study lounges, computer labs, music rehearsal rooms and classes held in some Quad buildings.

According to a survey of about 340 students conducted by the UA, 63 percent said that outside doors to buildings within the Quad should be unlocked and 68 percent said that shared hallway bathroom doors should be unlocked.

The UA also proposed eventually implementing a card swipe access system for building entrances and bathrooms.

"I think the PennCard element is critical," UA representative and College sophomore Brendan Darrow said. "But it's expensive, so the University will be disinclined to do it."

Although an official plan of action has not yet been decided on, Patel said the UA will continue working with the DPS and CHAS to "come up with an ideal solution."

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