An experiment taking place on south campus could determine a fate concerning the rest of the U. Missouri-St. Louis. The School of Social Work, residing in Bellerive Hall, began an experimental ID test last semester.
Though the theory of creating a safer campus has been in the back of minds for years, the recent events of assaults on campus inspired a quicker result to derive.
In March, students and faculty in Bellerive Hall were instructed to begin wearing their UM-St. Louis ID’s around their necks while in the building. A card swipe system was installed in April, allowing access only to those taking classes or employed within Bellerive after 5 p.m.
Because of its isolation to the rest of the campus and the population of the building in general, Bellerive was chosen as the testing zone.
“Because this building is somewhat isolated, that is, not connected to other buildings, it’s easy for people to wander in and out of the building.” Dr. Lois Pierce, director of the School of Social Work said.
“We don’t have a receptionist, somebody sitting at the front door. Then there’s nobody checking to make sure [the people] in the building really should be in the building. We’ve had two computers disappear already, and so we were concerned about people stealing additional computers and things like that. It’s a combination of a number of things. The safety of the students and being able to [make sure] people in the building have a reason to be in the building,” Pierce said.
The suggestion for ID’s was a combined effort from faculty at Bellerive and campus police as the next safety solution. However, mixed responses show several students are concerned about their identification being stolen.
Others confirm that the ID’s do make them feel safer.
“My first reaction to the lanyards was that they were not going to do anything. I thought they were kind of silly” Janice Weatherly, senior, Public Policy Administration said. “I didn’t like the IDs at first, but I like the idea of knowing who should and shouldn’t be in the building. The lanyards give you a feeling of security,” Weatherly said.
While the lanyards are meant for student and faculty protection, it would also allow police to be wary.
“From the law enforcement end, there’s been incidents before that happened on campus, so its difficult for us to tell sometimes who the students are and who the visitors are and that type of thing.” Sergeant Daniel Contarini, campus police, said.
“Because of my background in law enforcement, I’ve always worn my name on my uniform. I’ve worked in secure environments where it was required and I think it helps foster security, and it doesn’t hinder it,” Contarini said.
Those who cannot acknowledge why they are present at Bellerive will be asked to leave the building. The campus police are on standby for any persons who resist.
Not much enforcement has taken place thus far, according to Pierce, but plans to bring stricter implementations begin in the fall as new social work students are brought in.
As far as how effective the ID’s would be among the entire campus, given that it is an open university, is also in question.
“Really, the law enforcement community would be hopefully ready to identify who belongs here. I also know human nature being what it is, [people] are going to forget their ID, maybe leave them in their car. How practical it is in the long run? I don’t know. But I think the overall concept of what they’re trying to accomplish with is a good thing” Contarini said.