The beginning of a new school year has brought a significant change to how student ID cards work around campus. This change comes in the form of access; now students can only get on the floor or in the building that they live in. 

Previously, ID cards would allow access to any residence hall before 11 p.m. on weekdays and 1 a.m. on weekends. This change seeks to improve campus security, however, it poses potential problems for students trying to meet friends who live in a different building or floor. 

This change means that someone with a stolen ID card, would have their access severely limited. Chandler Buchfeller, the director of residence life, said that the “change was driven by twin desires … to increase both student’s safety and their sense of safety in on-campus living spaces.”

He also said that there had been a problem with students letting themselves into people’s floors and communal bathrooms uninvited. With this alteration, students will be able to feel more comfortable in shared areas in their floors/buildings. 

Griffin Eash, a sophomore who lives in Yoder, spoke about potential issues that come with the change. He said, “I can see from a security standpoint why they made the decision, but for the student body it causes a lot of problems when you want to go to another floor to hang out with your friends.”

Collin Echols, a senior broadcasting major and Romero resident, said “It’s kind of inconvenient to have to go down there and [open the doors] all the time. 

Matthew Dyck, a junior peace, justice and conflict studies and history double major, and Howell resident, said “It’s a problem and I hate it but it’s just an inconvenience.”

“It doesn’t prevent me from hanging out with people but it does totally inconvenience me.”

Buchfeller said, “We want students to feel free to invite their friends onto floors to connect in those spaces,” and said that they kept the open hours on the floors the same as before to encourage this, but ultimately people need to be invited in order to access their friends’ building or floor. 

Eash said that the change could cause a “disconnect between on-campus students and commuters.” The change means the commuter’s ID cards will not work for any of the residence halls, making it difficult for them to see friends who live in the halls. 

Buchfeller said, “We also have not heard word that students are hanging out less with their friends or building fewer connections with other students as a result of this change.”