Many members of the AU community were shocked upon learning that a man sexually harassed a student as she showered in Anderson Hall early Wednesday morning. The man was middle-aged, which means he probably could not have been easily mistaken for a student.
Although how the man got into Anderson is still unknown, the shocking nature of the incident brings up several suggestions about how to prevent people like this man from entering the residence halls again. Among the possible suggestions are reinstating the residence hall guest sign-in policy that was in place during the war with Iraq, hiring more desk receptionists and even putting locks on the restrooms. Georgetown University is among those colleges where students must unlock residence hall restrooms with a key every time they use them.
However, we are not advocating a virtual lockdown of the residence halls. In our view, it all comes down to personal responsibility and awareness of one's environment.
First, students must realize that they have to swipe into the residence halls for a reason and have to show their IDs to the desk receptionists for a reason. This reason is to ensure that the only people in the residence halls are those who have a legitimate reason for being there.
Along this line, students cannot let guests into the residence halls unless they know who these guests are. If a guy loitering around the door to McDowell asks you to let him in because his friend lives in McDowell, do not let him in. Maybe he's a Gallaudet student whose friend lives in McDowell -or maybe he's just waiting to catch the next girl in the shower.
Students must also stay informed of the dangers that exist and what they can do to prevent bad situations. This is why The Eagle prints a police blotter in every issue. Also, if you feel the need to walk across campus at 4 a.m., take a friend with you. If your friends are all asleep, call Public Safety and one of those officers will escort you. If you need an escort, call Public Safety's non-emergency number, x2525.
And if you're on campus and it's an emergency, call Public Safety at x3636.
