With the recent theft at Grimes Residence Hall bringing the total number of thefts in the Olde Campus Upper Quad to four this academic year, it is time students begin taking the message from the Department of Housing and Residential Education to lock their doors seriously.
While the recent email sent to residents that detailed the potential cost of a residence hall room break-in may have seemed a bit exaggerated by including a hypothetical $200 stash of emergency cash and $122 of prescription medicine, its message is valid.
When living in a large community, it is foolish to put a massive amount of faith in those around you. Though everyone living in a residence hall has been told repeatedly to not allow others to follow them into the residence hall, or “tailgate,” it is rare to find a student that will close the door on another.
As easy as it would be to damn all those that allow tailgating and call for a crack down on this habit, it would be unreasonable and ineffective. These incidences do not happen due to a total disrespect for residence hall rules but simply due to a desire to show fellow students common courtesies.
Therefore, though it may sound unsavory and a little too much like victim blaming, the lion’s share of accountability in matters of room security ultimately falls to the individual rather than the community. If each individual room — only accessible by residents — remained secure and locked, no amount of tailgating could result in theft.
Students that live off campus may scoff at this reminder, believing individual houses and apartments to be more secure than a residence hall. However, security is a universal concern that no one can afford to disregard.
