Following two incidents this term in which female students were walked in on while showering in a residence hall bathroom, Dean of Residential Life Martin Redman announced that at least one women's bathroom in every dormitory will receive a lock within the next week.
Today, Topliff, New Hampshire, the Rip-Wood-Smith cluster and possibly Middle Fayerweather -- should time and materials permit -- will receive the locks.
However, due to lack of time and supplies, only one bathroom in each residence hall will receive a lock, Redman said.
Yet Redman and several students agree that the locks will not solve the broader problem of safety on campus.
"I do not believe that this is the ultimate answer to the issue," but at least the bathroom locks will be available to provide security for those who are concerned, Redman said.
The Office of Residential Life saw the bathroom locks as the quickest solution to appease concerned students, Redman said.
According to the student who was walked in on Monday, this is definitely a "step in the right direction," although she felt that "there should be locks on every bathroom." She added that she would use the locked bathroom, even if she had to walk several floors to do so. This sentiment was also echoed by fellow Topliff resident Pam Crikelair '01.
"The only way for me to ever feel safe in the shower again is to have locks on the showers," and not just the bathroom doors, the Topliff female student -- who asked to remain anonymous -- said.
Redman agreed that the installation of doors with slide locks in the showers might be an eventual solution.
Yet Crikelair is "so pleased that this is happening," adding that even though "there is a lot that we can do further ... something is so much better than nothing."
She said that women's bathrooms should be locked regardless of locks on outside doors.
Female residents of buildings will be notified by BlitzMail once the locks are installed.
