Living in the heart of midtown St. Louis is not always safe. Although students are often frustrated with the need to show identification upon entering the residence halls and check in guests after 7 p.m., many students feel more secure with this system.

“I feel very protected in the residence halls, considering the area we live in,” said SLU student Nikki Dust. “I have friends at other universities where the check-in times are later than SLU’s 7 p.m. requirement. It would be nice to have the time changed to a later time.”

All residence halls at Georgetown University have security desks. Residents are required to check-in any non-student visitors.

Students at Creighton University are trying to change their policy regarding checking in their guests.

“Right now, visitors from off campus and from other halls have to be out of the rooms at 1:00 a.m. during the week and 2:00 a.m. on the weekends,” said Sara Zabrowski, a student at Creighton University. “The students want to do away with the policy for upperclassmen and extend it an hour for freshmen.

“We don’t have to show our IDs at all in any of the dorms until after 7 p.m.,” she continued. “If we have a visitor from another dorm or from off-campus, they just leave their IDs at the security desks and tell them what room they are going to.”

SLU students must always show identification upon entering the residence halls. They must check-in off-campus guests by leaving their identification along with their visitor’s identification at the security desk, regardless of the time of day.

Saint Louis University, unlike most of the other universities being analyzed, does not require freshmen students to live on campus.

“Many families ask if housing is guaranteed for freshman,” said Scott Belobrajdic, director of undergraduate admissions. “My answer is no.”

At Georgetown University and Creighton University, first-year and sophomore students are required to live on campus. At Georgetown, exceptions will be granted if the student is 21 prior to the start of the academic year; if the local residence is with parents, legal guardians or immediate family over the age of 21; if the student has a documented medical condition which requires off-campus living; or if the student is married or must live with a dependent.

Freshmen at Washington University not from St. Louis are required to live on campus.