Door locks make dormitory debut

While some students found the College's new door locking system -- activated yesterday -- to be a minor hassle, others hoped that it would increase campus security. No one contacted by The Dartmouth strongly objected to the locks -- which were tested this summer in Massachusetts Row, The Gold Coast, Cutter North and Brewster Halls -- but many debated their effectiveness. Student Body President Janos Marton '04, who deemed the locks "an abomination" this summer, said he opposes the system because "it makes people feel like there is something to be worried about, when, in fact, Dartmouth is one of the safest places in the country." While many students gave a lukewarm response, two of those living off-campus who had not yet been issued identification cards encoded with the new technology said the locks made it inconvenient for them to visit friends in the dorms. Director of Residential Operations Woody Eckels said the system was installed partly in response to requests from students and parents, and noted that "the system worked fine this summer" when it was active with "very little complaint." Like many other students, Harry Johnson '03 felt that the locked doors are a sign of the times.