Under Lock and Key

Columbia University Facilities recently undertook a project to replace old mechanical locks on dormitory doors with electronic CUID locks. Although this effort is commendable, Facilities has not made sufficient efforts to temper its harsh policies about lock replacement for the old VingCard locks. Until the department has finished installing CUID locks, facilities should reduce the severity of fines associated with lock replacement for the old mechanical locks.

Students who lose their room keys must pay $50 to have the lock replaced, even though this “replacement” only entails recalibration of the existing mechanism by a technician, not replacing the old lock with a new device. If this fee were meant to ensure that students make concerted efforts to find misplaced keys before contacting Housing officials, it failed. Occasionally, students choose to forego lock replacement because of its prohibitive cost, putting themselves at risk for burglary. In addition, an
incident this summer reflects a flawed set of policies about safety management. Dozens of students in Schapiro Hall returned to their rooms to discover that their keys no longer worked. Facilities had changed their locks without notice, expecting students to deduce for themselves that they should request new keys at the Hartley Hospitality Desk.

Facilities should hasten the replacement of VingCard locks with electronic ones, or reform its strict policies about key replacement in the meantime. Hefty lock replacement fees are a deterrent to safety, and security is more important than making sure students search long and hard for keys before replacing them. The department has taken steps to prevent the sort of mix-up that happened this summer by posting signs about lock changes and setting up key-swap stations in residence hall lobbies. However, better lock replacement policy does not address the fundamental problem. Ving keys are difficult to manage and less safe. New electronic locks—like those in Ruggles, River, and certain floors of other select buildings—should be installed in
other dorms, including first-year housing. This system is also cheaper for students who
lose their keys, since replacing one’s CUID only costs $20. Finally, electronic locks automatically disable for three minutes after three unsuccessful entry attempts, inhibiting would-be burglars and making rooms more secure.

The new electronic locks are convenient and safe, and would allow Facilities to better manage room security. Facilities should bring dormitories up to date quickly or relax their key replacement policy for the time being if they truly care about students' safety.