Lowell House Tries Out Universal Keycard Access

Following a trend set by Quincy and Cabot Houses earlier this year, Lowell House announced Monday it would adopt universal keycard access on a trial basis for the rest of the semester.

The main glass door leading to the Lowell courtyard will now be open to all undergraduates 24 hours a day. In addition, all students will have access to Lowell entryway doors from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.

"We really feel that the sense of community at Lowell is very strong, and needs to be made strong not by locking the doors but by efforts here in the House," Lowell House Master Diana L. Eck said.

According to House Committee President Michael P. Abate '00, the push for universal access at Lowell began with the election of new House officers last spring, before the change had been implemented at Quincy or Cabot.

"That was one of the first things we wanted to move towards," Abate said.

Last fall, the House committee sponsored a dining hall survey to see if Lowell students supported the change. Abate said 84 percent of those surveyed supported universal access on the courtyard door and entryway doors-the option on the survey that offered the most access.

Abate said the survey results were then presented to Eck, who is also professor of comparative religion and Indian studies, and Co-Master Dorothy A. Austin.

"[The change] has really been at their initiative-we're really indebted to them," Abate said.

Eck said yesterday that security concerns about the situation remain, and universal access at Lowell will be reevaluated at the end of the semester. She notes that many Lowell students currently leave their rooms unlocked.

"If students don't lock their doors, then [with universal access] suddenly 6,000 students have access to their room," she said. "It does mean students need to take more responsibility for locking their doors."

An e-mail message alerting Lowell students to the change urged them to lock their doors at all times. The message also encouraged students to let doors close behind them and report lost ID cards immediately.

Lowell students said yesterday that the security concerns can be surmounted-and are more than balanced out by the increased convenience of universal access.

"I think people should be able to have access to have Houses. It should be convenient," said Hayden F. Hirschfeld '98 '99. "I think it's something that has to be treated thoughtfully, but I think it can be safely adopted. People are going to have to be extra careful."

The change will allow universal access for first-year students as well as upperclass students. Eck said she wanted the Lowell courtyard open to any student who feels in danger while walking at night.

Abate also said the change will prevent students from holding the door for strangers attempting to enter the House.

"We saw that everyone had just becomeaccustomed to holding the door to anyone whowanted to get into the House," he said.

Some Lowell students said they don't think themove to universal access will change House lifesignificantly.

"I don't think it's going to be very differentbecause [the courtyard door] is almost always openanyway," Jenny Chou '01 said.

"I don't think more people will come justbecause we have universal keycard access--it'lljust be easier for those who do to get in," sheadded

"We saw that everyone had just becomeaccustomed to holding the door to anyone whowanted to get into the House," he said.

Some Lowell students said they don't think themove to universal access will change House lifesignificantly.

"I don't think it's going to be very differentbecause [the courtyard door] is almost always openanyway," Jenny Chou '01 said.

"I don't think more people will come justbecause we have universal keycard access--it'lljust be easier for those who do to get in," sheadded