Who are you letting into your building?
In the past few weeks there have been two unrelated, yet similar issues in the dorms, involving students and the alleged use of hallucinogenic controlled substances.
Both students accessed dorm buildings. One was in Hallett Hall and the other in Stearns East Hall.
Despite possibly being on drugs, both managed to get past security and enter the dorms.
Dan Colburn a freshman, pre-journalism major and hall council member living in Hallett Hall was around on Sept. 28 when the alleged naked intruder entered the dorm.
“Security wasn’t an issue at all,” Colburn said. “The issue is kids letting other kids into the building; it’s really not hard to get in.”
As a hall council member, Colburn is instructed to tell other hall residents to be careful when doing drugs, and when letting people into the building.
After the alleged molesting incident was reported to one of the Resident Advisors in Hallett, it was only a short period of time before the head RA notified security and Boulder Police came to the scene.
As far as feeling secure in the dorms many students say feel fine.
“I feel safe, it’s not like I’m dropping acid,” Colburn said.
Security has increased their efforts to reach out and provide support to individuals, as well as increase their presence in dorms on campus.
“We encourage students to come to the aid of others in threatening situations, but only if they feel confident they can assist without also being injured,” an e-mail sent to Williams Village residents from campus security said.
In Williams Village, according to some of the residents, security isn’t so swift.
Freshmen and sociology major Vince Meade, who lives on the floor that was threatened by the other alleged acid-dropping intruder, recalls waiting a while for them to show up.
“One of the kids on our floor, had to hold the guy down while security was on their way,” Meade said. “Security got lucky that a six-four, 260-pound guy was here to take care of things.”
After security arrived they handled the situation appropriately.
“It’s not a matter of feeling safe,” Meade said. “The security here does their job, but the kids here do a lot of drugs, sometimes stuff happens.”
Sometimes, there is nothing that can be done.
“No one was at fault for the guy getting in,” Meade said. “There was nothing anyone could of done. He is a student and he had a key.”
On the contrary, the intruder in Hallet was unknowingly let in by an actual resident.
“I don’t want to be the jerk that doesn’t let someone into my dorm because I think they look suspicious,” Colburn said. “How are you supposed to know a student from a rapist?”
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Clare Lane at clare.lane@colorado.edu
