Any aspiring trespassers to Saint Louis University’s residence halls will now have to face another obstacle. Beginning the weekend of Feb. 23, a security guard will now stand watch at the check-in desk from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. each night. This security upgrade is in addition to the current regular desk workers, card-swiping system and the recent change to 24-hour locked doors.
The security guards are all employees of Whalen Security, a large security firm that was hired to turn these proposed measures into reality. According to Director of Housing and Residence Life Argyle Wade, each security guard has, on average, six years of prior experience and was hand-selected for this kind of environment.
Though many have speculated that the increase in security is in response to last month’s rape at Washington University, the recent break-in at Griesedieck Hall or other on-campus trespasses, Wade said, “This permanent change is not in response to any one incident, nor is it a reflection of the students who have, to this point, provided this service. The incident at Washington University is an example of how important it is for all of us to keep safety and security as a top priority.”
Freshman Ryan Dunn, a Griesedieck resident, agreed with this sentiment, saying, “While I have not personally experienced anything to warrant the security increase, that does not mean that it is unwarranted.” Dunn felt that this was a worthy cause. “While a boost in security does come at a price, no dollar amount should be worth more than the safety of the students here at SLU,” he said.
Not all students jumped to praise the program, though. Lauren Evans, a resident of the freshman dorm, Reinert Hall, found the new measures to be “a little unnecessary” and felt that “locking the doors was sufficient.” Though she admitted that Reinert is not in the safest part of campus, ever since the decision was made to lock the doors 24- hours a day, she said, “I haven’t questioned my security.”
Wade hopes that, during the course of this week, he can begin a method that will “shift the student workers who currently work the security desk during the early and late evenings to the morning and day,” leaving the security guards to work independently during the evening and early morning hours.
When asked if security measures would be changing elsewhere on campus, Wade said, “The University is constantly evaluating all security measures, with the goal of providing a safe and secure learning and working environment. The safety and security of our students and their guests is our top priority.”
