Rumors have been floating around campus that new restrictions to residence hall access may be enacted for the next school year.

Specifically, students may only being able to enter their own residence halls, extending the current nighttime access rules to around-the-clock enforcement.

Students are familiar with their ID cards not working on other residence halls after 10 p.m., but a proposition is being discussed for a 24-hour restriction instead of just after 10 p.m.

Robert Cepeda, director of LCCPS, listed facts about campus security when asked via e-mail about the positive side of the 24-hour restricted access. He said that almost 70 percent of resident hall offenses are conducted by students against students and most offenses are committed by someone known to the victim.

He also said that institutions attempt to address these issues through a variety of crime prevention techniques, including limiting access.

“The objective of any institution is to create an environment that is as safe as reasonably possible,” he said. “Given the realities of the community environment and the inability to control the actions of those who do harm.”

Cepeda said the college is working proactively to educate the campus with ASLC Senate meetings on the subject, an e-mail to the student body, focus groups, a Facebook group and more.

Many students may recall the intruder who tailgated into Hewitt in April. The intruder was not a Linfield student and entered without an ID card.

Cepeda warned students about tailgating, when students or others follow students into buildings so that they don’t need to use their ID card.

However, many students don’t understand how restricting hall access during a 24-hour period will prevent tailgating, he said.

Freshman Claudia Ramirez said that she doesn’t agree with restricting hall access because it is not only inconvenient, but she believes it won’t be effective.

“It doesn’t make a difference of who is coming in and who is coming out,” she said. “It’s ridiculous; it’s not like we’re housing a bunch of high school students. There isn’t that big of a security problem on campus to restrict access.”

Inconvenience is one of many issues that students have with restricted access.

Another problem is arranging group projects. Finding a spot to study with a group is sometimes tricky, but having to communicate in a timely manner to let someone into your residence hall can be trickier.

There is still no affirmative answer to whether restricted dorm access 24-hour will be put into action next school year.

“No decision has been made,” Cepeda said. “This is [still] under consideration. We continue to welcome student feedback.”

Lauren Ostrom

Features editor Lauren Ostrom can be reached at [email protected]