Lockdown

Earlier this weeks the dorms switched over to an electronic "card swipe" system for entrance to all exterior doors after 7PM (and home football game weekend lockdowns) and for entrance to the doors that lead to the stairwell. Last year not only was it only key entry but there weren't any doors securing the steps. Though they were working on creating the new system all of spring semester and now its finally done.

The idea is great. I have a handful of keys (room key, bike key, and a few for architecture buildings) so locating the proper key takes s few second and I occasionally use the wrong key. So being able to access the building through an easy card swipe is fine. The problem arises when I have to access my I-Card from my wallet to get into the building. There is no good place to keep my card except, surprise, in my wallet. I rarely access my wallet. I just have to carry cash and other important stuff, that of course I never need. So having to get into my back pocket, getting out my card and then putting the card back in is unnecessary. I also find it absurd that the stairwell needs to be secured. Lock the "lobby" after 7PM. Thats fine, but why make my dorm, the place I call home for 7 or so months, feel like a prison and that I am being kept in. I have always felt that securing something is not to keep people out but instead keep people in.

The problem becomes even greater when I finally make to my room and oh I still have to use my room key. So I still have to gather my keys and find the right one and then I can open my room. It might not sound like that big of a deal, but when you have to do it 2+ times a day, it gets old and annoying real quick. Today was the worst because all I wanted to do was go play catch and yet I had to not only bring my room keys, but also my I-card, and toss them aside while I play catch with an oppurtunity for anybody to nab them. It sucks.

I know some people will say these efforts are to make not only myself safer, but the entire dorm community. But lets not kid ourselves. If you want to get in the building, you are going to be able to get into the building. Just hang around the doors and with hundreds of people always coming and going you'll eventually get in. I find myself opening and holding the door for people I dont know just because how annoying the system is. Of course I don't know them from Jack, but its my believe that for the most part people are good and I can trust them, until I find out otherwise. I know the electronic card swipes are here to stay, so in order to help the situation they need to make access to the dorm rooms electronic card access too. With this new system its more likely students will lose their I-Cards and I'm not beyond believing that the University may be trying to get a pretty penny for students who need a new card (a new card is $20).