At the beginning of this semester, the Office of Residence Life removed Resident Assistants’ access to the rooms of other students. Previously, RAs were able to access any student dormitory equipped with an electronic lock, including ones in buildings where they didn’t live. Now, RAs can only enter student rooms while conducting scheduled rounds, using a temporary key card issued to them specifically for that time period.
Starting midway through fall semester, RAs’ access to other students’ rooms was limited to the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., which are the hours when RAs are officially on shift. Then, at the beginning of the spring semester, RAs were told they would lose universal access entirely.
Director of Residential Engagement Melanie Hawkins said the decision to terminate access was made as part of the regular review of policies and stemmed from an evaluation of best practices within the higher education space.
“This decision was made in collaboration with the Office for Institutional Equity, Campus Safety, and Residence Life to ensure greater accountability and reduce the risk of cards or phones being lost or misplaced,” Hawkins wrote in an email to the Review. “Any concerns that are brought to our attention are thoroughly investigated.”
College second-year and RA Lincoln Moore said he was told the change was to reduce any pressure to unlock students’ doors outside of their scheduled hours and to prevent concerns of improper usage. However, College fourth-year and RA Shawn Lisann said that he and his coworkers were told access was being removed because it had been abused in the past.
A Campus Safety report indicates that, between Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, someone allegedly used an “RA card” for an “unlawful entry” in Burton Hall. The report indicates the matter was reported to Campus Safety on Dec. 4 and subsequently forwarded to ResLife. No suspect was indicated.
Moore and Lisann said that the reduced access has not had a major impact on their jobs. Moore said that instead of unlocking the doors of students who have been locked out of their rooms, he helps them call Campus Safety. Lisann added that if a student in their dormitory is locked out, the on-duty RA in their hall can retrieve a physical keycard with universal access to student rooms.
“For the most part, it makes it easier because now there’s less pressure to help residents during the day if they get locked out,” Moore said. “Sometimes people forget that that’s not something that [RAs] can really do anymore. And then I just have to be like, ‘Hey, sorry.’”
