Two more unidentified men found in Derwent
Rachel Elgar
Another two unidentified men were found in an unlocked bedroom in Derwent College B block last night after yet another gross lapse in Derwent security.
The two intruders were found by the owner of a neighbouring room at 7.30pm, after she heard voices and went to investigate.
“At first I thought it was my friend’s boyfriend but I quickly realised that they were definitely not students”, said the neighbour, who wishes to remain anonymous.
Upon finding the two men, the girl told them to put back whatever they had stolen and leave. She was greeted by “aggression” from the men, who went on to say that they would “get” her. One of the unknown individuals then allegedly reached into his pocket, at which point the girl panicked and ran to get help from friends.
“I didn’t know what he was going to do and I didn’t want to wait to find out”, said the girl.
University security services arrived quickly on the scene, followed by the police. The area was searched but nothing was found. No possessions were stolen.
The student whose room was involved, who also wishes to remain unnamed, expressed that she was happy with the rapid response from security, who supposedly arrived in less than 5 minutes. However, regarding the lack of porters available, the student later commented: “It would be nicer to know they’re there all the time”.
The recent cuts to 24 hour portering meant that no porters were available. Despite the speedy response of security staff, many have also been voiced that porters would have been on the scene even faster.
This event comes merely two weeks after separate incidences of two homeless men who were found frequenting Derwent A block on more than one occasion, despite several changes to door codes. The neighbour commented: “I don’t understand why Derwent doors don’t have key cards like most others on campus.”
YUSU Welfare Officer, Ben Humphrys, stated: “Derwent has clearly been targeted by a number of intruders this term. We’re pushing the University to introduce a swipe card system for locks, but students should always lock their room doors, even when away for a short time, to stop becoming a victim to this kind of incident.”
Derwent JCRC Chair, Joe Rankin, commented on the situation regarding the current use of code-locks as opposed to key cards in Derwent: “It is true that accommodation security would be increased by fitting key-card access locks or something similar to Block and Floor doors. Indeed, this is something that is occasionally discussed at College-level meetings, as routine. However, I have always strongly advised against any such measures being installed; as have other Student Representatives and our predecessors.”
Rankin added: “One of the best things about living in Derwent is the freedom for students to move about, interact, meet new people, invite friends into their blocks and socialise with a wide group of people. By adding access-card style locks to various doors, you isolate floors and sections of blocks and, in turn, slow or prevent interaction.
“By being a little more aware of who is following you into your block, asking for the code or hanging around outside, and by locking your bedroom door when you pop out, students can have a significant impact on their accommodation security without the need for socially-detrimental security measures on all doors.”
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No porters in Derwent now and it gets a massive number of security problems in a short space of time? Excellent
I’ll play devil’s advocate here and point out that correlation and causation are not the same thing.
Still, we need 24 hour portering!
Joe Rankin is spot on here.
Sounds like someones making up security breaches to help bolster the porter campaign
If people were just sensible and locked their doors behind them, there simply wouldn’t be an issue at all. If you or your ‘best friends’ aren’t about, then lock it! If you’re all in the kitchen messing about, then don’t.
For goodness sake, it doesn’t look bad on not having porters. It looks bad on yourselves. It might be alien to some, but now you’re at university, freshmen, you actually have to take responsibility for your own lives, and that means locking things up when you’re not there as mummy and daddy aren’t there to do it for you. It’s called ‘growing up’ and this girl learnt it the hard way!
It hasn’t been made up, these men were roaming around on the floor i’m living on. It is important to lock your doors, yes, but the point is that anyone can just walk right in to our accomodation and do what they please. Into our kitchens, our bathrooms, our corridors, wherever we might be and that makes me feel scared. You wouldn’t want a stranger barging into your house, even if they couldn’t get into your bedroom. Security is paramount, and I would rather have key cards for this reason.
I’m sorry but this is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Regardless of any “conspiracies” which may be in place to exaggerate the problems caused by lack of 24hr portering, the blase response by Derwent’s JCRC chair can be met with nothing less than stinging criticism.
The only conclusion that can be drawn from his comments is that he regards student’s social interaction over their safety. Halifax, James, and Alcuin have all had key-card access only ever since I was resident in Halifax in 07-08 and we certainly never had any problems “interacting”. Further to that, I can recall no security breaches over the entire of Halifax, which is a hell of a lot bigger and more isolated than a college such as Derwent, during the period that I was living there.
This idea of Joe’s that we should all have open doors between blocks and flats contradicts his point that students should ask for codes from tailgaters – it only takes a lapse at that one door to give an intruder access to an entire block, where they should be halted at every door that they should’nt have access to.
Spot on Michael D’Cruze.
I wonder who the chair speaks for when he neglects security for the sake of mythical college spirit.
Keycards don’t isolate anyone apart from unwelcome intruders. I’ve lived on campus in 2 blocks which required keycards and didn’t have any trouble getting to socialise, either as a fresher or as a returner. If i wanted to go to another block, a friend would let me in, and there are plenty of opportunities to socialise as a college aren’t there? Isn’t that what a JCRC is for? Who actually wanders around other peoples’ corridors without invitation anyway? If you wanted to introduce yourself, there was always the good old fashioned knock on the door…
Locks aren’t on every door, but only on points of access that could be a security risk. Believe it or not, the system was properly designed with security in mind, and there are plenty of communal areas to socialise in without having to sacrifice security.
The facts are stark. Derwent gets robbed more than, say, (card protected) Alcuin or Goodricke. More intruders get in, and students are at higher risk of encountering an intruder. It’s got nothing to do with porters, they won’t stop students holding doors open or people tailgating with a group, or telling people the code because they believe they’re a real student.
The only issue with keycards is access to seminar rooms and supervisors’ offices. Philosophy and politics staff and students need access to residential blocks on a regular basis.