When it comes to an open door policy, the residents of the Living and Learning Center want to make an addition.
The students will get just that with a card-swiping door slated to be added to the building within the next couple weeks.
University President Pat Long has contacted Director of Physical Plant Gary Walbridge in regards to adding a card-swiping door entrance to the back of the building.
Walbridge said he realizes the problems involved with the residence hall only having one door with the card-reading feature, which is located at the front of the building.
“It makes it more convenient,” Walbridge said. “I understand the hassle.”
Though the building has one entrance at the front of the facility, which faces south, another entrance will be welcomed by students who use the building for classrooms and housing.
Walbridge said the school is in the process of acquiring a security mechanism for the back door, but the company that has made the door installations in the past is no longer in business.
The current entrance becomes very crowded at times with students going both in and out of the building.
Students coming from Horn and Markham apartments, which are behind the LLC, must walk all the way around the building to get to the main entrance.
The resident assistants of the LLC initiated a petition last semester when problems started arising. That petition apparently made an impact.
Living and Learning Center RA Tiffany Cornett said getting more access into the facility is a smart move.
“It has been a huge safety issue,” she said. “It will be a lot easier for people to get access. Overall, it’s a good thing.”
Walbridge said he was in contact with a locking hardware vendor last week and plans to set up a timeline for installation this week.
He added that the installation basically entails some wiring and programming of the system.
Junior Eli Jones said he believes adding another entrance to the building will be an improvement.
“I think it will definitely make entering the building much more convenient, especially when leaving or bringing stuff from home,” he said.
