Swipe-By Security

Last week, Barnard Residential Life and Housing announced that uniformed Public Safety officers will start patrolling residence halls. According to Barnard Safety and Security, this new policy aims to increase security during the holiday season and to ensure that guests are escorted by a resident of the building at all times. While it is clear that the Barnard administration has students' best interests at heart, it would make more sense to replace wandering security guards with a swipe-access system similar to the one found in Columbia dorms.

The department of Residential Life and Housing explained in an e-mail that these officers will be on the lookout for suspicious individuals in the dormitories and will ask them for identification. The presence of Public Safety officers on dormitory floors is more likely to promote feelings of nervousness and discomfort than safety. Many residents were alarmed to hear that these officers would be regularly patrolling their floors and invading spaces typically reserved for female students. While Public Safety has stated that no particular incident prompted this policy and that it will only enhance the jurisdiction of standard security guards, there are more effective, less intrusive ways to improve dorm security.

To keep Barnard students as safe as possible, the College should replace this new policy and consider a larger overhaul: investing in swipe access technology. Current, Barnard students must flash their IDs for the guard on duty each time they enter the building. Though all guests are supposed to be signed in by a student, there is always the potential for error since security guards ultimately decide who is allowed to enter, and the decision may be arbitrary. Replacing flash access with swipe would ensure that only students with valid IDs and their guests would be able to enter Barnard dormitories, minimizing subjective judgments. Columbia's swipe access system has seen general success in keeping unwanted visitors out. While swipe access monitors are expensive, Barnard should consider its installation to be a long-term investment in their students' security.

Transferring security guards from entryways to students' living spaces can seem invasive, making some students feel uncomfortable. With the implementation of a swipe access system, Barnard Safety and Security can better protect students by preventing safety issues before they arise.