Campus Technology Services is working on installing a new, automated gate system to the Cokesbury Court Apartments.
Casey Kreger, director of housing and resident life, said instead of a single code for everyone, Kreger said students will now use their student IDs to swipe into the gate and will soon be given a personal code. Kreger said the Office of Housing and Residence Life installed a card swipe system to access the Cokesbury Clubhouse earlier this year and, similarly, added the card swipe to the front gate. Currently, students can only access Cokesbury apartments with the card swipe, but once a new system is installed, they will be given their own personal visitor code.
“The card swipe on the front is only a card swipe, and that is temporary right now. We’re waiting for a new card swipe to arrive that is a card swipe and keypad combo unit,” Kreger said. “The long-term goal is that every resident in Cokesbury will be assigned a visitors code. It will be an individual code that will be tied to that resident. We hope to get that new swipe in two to three weeks.”
The temporary card swipe was installed on Feb. 4, and due to technical difficulties installing it, Cokesbury residents were sent an email from Residence Life to inform them the gates would be open overnight. The email also stated officers from the OCU Police Department would patrol the apartment complex more heavily while it was open.
“Now the gates are up, everything’s working appropriately, the schedule’s up so students will be able to swipe in, and when the new keypad/card swipe combo unit is installed, IT will be setting up the pin codes for people and will be emailed out when they’re available,” he said.
Kreger also said the personal codes give students more privacy and increase safety.
“Students in Cokesbury are older, they’re more mature and there’s a reason they live there rather than a traditional resident hall, and so we want to give them some of that privacy, some of those luxuries that you’d get living off campus,” he said. “So, by giving students their individual code, we’ll be able to look back and access, if something were to occur, who it was tied to and gather more information.”
Kreger said housing gained possession of the Cokesbury Court Apartments last January after taking over from their previous partner, Campus Living Villages. Since then, the Office of Housing and Residence Life has been trying to improve the apartment complex’s security.
“One thing we always struggled with was security and safety,” he said. “We’re just playing catch-up trying to renew different pieces, trying to repair some things and refresh the property as much as we can within our limits.”
Dexter Nelson, OCU chief of police, said the gate upgrade was a planned improvement.
“I can tell you that there has not been any increase of theft or crime occurring at Cokesbury apartments or anywhere else on campus,” Nelson said.
Lauren Madsen, stage management junior, said the card swipe is inconvenient for students expecting deliveries.
“If I order a delivery thing, because we’re told not to leave campus, how are they supposed to get in?” she said.
Ally Spear, biomedical science junior, said although the gate being swipe only is inconvenient, it’s safe.
“I think the gate being swipe-only right now is a safe option, but it is inconvenient if someone forgets their card or is having food delivered to their apartment,” she said.
Spear also said she’s not sure what the effect of personal pin codes will be.
“I think everyone having their own pin code is a cool idea, but I do not see how it will change safety regulations,” she said.
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