Central Michigan University is discussing the possibility of installing card readers at side entrances of its campus residence halls. The proposal was raised at a recent student government association senate meeting, but was ultimately postponed following "heated debate."

Per a report from Central Michigan Life, the bill that would see the installation of the card readers will first be taken before the university's Residence Hall Association in hopes of garnering further endorsement.

The motion, dubbed "The Resolution in Support of the Installation of Keycard Locks on Residence Hall Exterior Doors," referenced other universities that have implemented similar measures at residence hall doors, including Northern Illinois University and the neighboring Eastern Michigan University and Western Michigan University.

Central Michigan Life also reports that it was the Senate that had reservations about the installation of the additional card readers, citing particular concerns over residence halls being unable to discern who enters the dorms after hours and how lost student IDs could be used by other persons to gain entry to residence halls.

Visitor management protocols are vastly fragmented not only institution to institution, but also building to building. Further complicating the process, security at locations like campus residence halls are a constant balancing act between security and convenience for residents. Enabling anytime card access at unmonitored side doors could introduce new security gaps if not implemented in a responsible manner with the involvement of all necessary university stakeholders.

At Central Michigan, safety protocols see dorm front doors typically lock at 10:00 p.m. so that the front desk is aware of who enters building after hours. While funneling everyone through a main entrance may be cumbersome at times, it does at least introduce some level of control that can enable residence hall security personnel to better know who is on premises at any given time.