Sorority House Security

[SWTXBelle]

Given the tragedy that might have happened had anyone at the Alpha Phi house in UC-SB opened the door, I've been thinking about security procedures at chapter houses. My chapter is in the process of building a new house - I've asked about security but haven't yet received an answer. SO -
how is security handled at your house? Does it work, does it need improvement, what doesn't work? Thanks!

[HQWest]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Given the tragedy that might have happened had anyone at the Alpha Phi house in UC-SB opened the door, I've been thinking about security procedures at chapter houses. My chapter is in the process of building a new house - I've asked about security but haven't yet received an answer. SO -
how is security handled at your house? Does it work, does it need improvement, what doesn't work? Thanks!

Its a catch 22. You need to take it up with your executive offices. We can't tell you what the flaws in our security are - it would be a security risk!

[SWTXBelle]

Hadn't thought of that - okay, let me rephrase it. How do you control access to the house? I read that the Alpha Phi house had a keypad entry - but if anyone had opened the door . . . so keypad? Magnetic stripe on an id? What are the rules for opening the door?

eta - I wasn't thinking of flaws in security as much I was thinking of a system that was too cumbersome and then was ditched.

[Titchou]

Ever since the tragedy at the Chi O House at FSU (Ted Bundy), I think all groups are on 24/7 lockdown. There are various types: key, ID card swipe,PIN pad, handprint, fingerprint, (those two don't work real well in colder climes where the pad is outdoors), fobs, etc. They all work equally well so long as the women observe the rules: don't loan your key/card/fob/etc to anyone, don't give the combination out, don't prop the door open (many have alarms that sound if help open longer than so many seconds), don't open the door to people you don't know or aren't expecting. The women at Alpha Phi were obviously well trained and observant. They saved a lot of lives. I hope all our women will take a lesson from this.

[AGDee]

I can speak fairly generally since I am not involved with a particular chapter. Keypads are pretty typical in my experience. Women are warned of the risks of opening the door to those they don't know. Honestly, in this day and age, knowing how college kids are, they'd probably text that they were there before they knocked on the door hoping someone would answer. I'm not even sure they'd hear a knock on the door if nobody was in the immediate vicinity of the door. I've also seen intercom systems, like in apartments, where they can buzz up to a particular room and that resident can come down and get someone who was visiting.

All entry points are typically kept locked but, just as with all of our residences, there are other ways to get in.

[cinder1965]

I am on the corporation board of my chapter at Purdue. We have a card swipe system. We carefully monitor what keys are given and who has them. All the doors and windows on the first floor are locked from the inside and alarmed if anyone tries to get in from the outside. But as someone said above, this system depends on the girls not giving out their key cards and not letting anyone in the front door, not propping open doors/windows, etc. If there is one thing about being on the corporation board that worries me a lot is the safety of the girls. I have nightmares of someone sneaking in or coming in the house under the ruse they are there to see a sister. So heartbreaking about the tragedy at UCSB...thank goodness those girls didn't open the door.

[Titchou]

^^^^ Oh yeah! When I was Fraternity Director of Housing, I saw so many things that bothered me. Things we never thought about when we were in school and no huge task. Houses that have balconies that anyone could climb up on. How many kitchen doors have a metal canopy over them and a window above? We had someone access a house that way in the 80's! With a weapon! And that was 30 years ago. scary....

[AGDee]

As with Information Security, the weakest link is always the people. I'll be curious whether those women of Alpha Phi didn't hear the door, consciously decided not to answer it, or what.

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by AGDee

As with Information Security, the weakest link is always the people.

THIS.

There are NO assumptions about what happened when Rodgers knocked on the door at Alpha Phi (I'm willing to bet no one bothered to answer the door, which was a lucky break for them, but not for those two Tri Deltas who were simply walking past the house at that time). NO assumptions about anything anyone has posted regarding security and how the actives are supposed to behave, or are going to behave.

Last August a transient male was "bothering" sorority women who were walking along the street. He followed two of our members home. He rang the front doorbell and when an active answered it, he walked right in to the facility. This is a matter of public record. Someone has the brains to call 911 and the police came and arrested him. I had an absolute meltdown when I learned about it IN THE NEWSPAPER.

I won't discuss security measures here, or even how actives access the house. Like Titchou, so many things bother me; I've lost countless hours of sleep over this issue of security.

[SWTXBelle]

Thanks, y'all. Our HCB will be discussing it - I know that any system is only as good as those who follow procedures. I also know that it is impossible to be totally secure, but we certainly have to try and be proactive. I'd hope that this tragedy engenders a discussion for all our groups. It's easy to think "Oh, something like that could never happen HERE", but as we all know, it can.

[clemsongirl]

I can speak for all of Clemson's on-campus Greek Life and on-campus housing in general-we have school ID cards that are programmed to scan and open the door for whatever building the student is given access to. Several buildings also require a second scan within the building to get into the elevator or stairs.

The issue, as has been stated above, is students letting people in who shouldn't be allowed in the building. We haven't had any incidents as serious as this one, thankfully, but there's been several incidents of fraternity men stealing composites or irate parents looking for their children when they aren't allowed in the building unescorted.

[MaryPoppins]

A chapter also doesn't want to be the only facility with say a card swipe system on campus. If they are then a found card leads back to only one facility. Aside from the actual security system, have well maintained doors and door latches are also important. If a door doesn't shut entirely without a battle, then the system is defeated before it can work.

[Just interested]

As HC chairman for our chapter at Texas A&M, you can bet our board will be reviewing procedures with our chapter after this incident in California. SAFETY is our number one concern and as someone has already said, the weakest link are people.
Those girls were so lucky. I can only imagine what would have happened.

[BAckbOwlsgIrl]

As much as I love these beautiful houses, I wonder if having a secured foyer for visitors might be an option. It would be similar to what the dorms have where sisters come down from upstairs to greet visitors before letting them in the rest of the house such as dining areas, etc.
It might not be the most glamorous option, but, the in lieu of recent events, the alternative is must worse.

[Titchou]

You still have the basic problem - women not observing the rules. Not to mention the cost, dealing with the FIre Marshall, having someone work the door, etc, etc, etc. Even on dorms, people can get around the security for the same reasons...