Bedroom Door Locks

Every few months Northeastern University Public Safety sends students reminders about being safe. They usually include something about securing your belongings and locking your doors and windows. Unfortunately, locking the door isn't always an option for some students. Several buildings at Northeastern lack locks individual bedroom doors. These include:

• 106-122 St. Stephen's Street,
  
• 319 Huntington Avenue,
  
• 337 Huntington Avenue,
  
• 407 Huntington Avenue,
  
• Loftman Hall,
  
• 153 Hemenway Street, and
  
• Kennedy Hall
  

Some rooms in theese buildings have fire escape access and can't have bedroom door locks installed because of fire code reasons. A locked door would prevent someone from reaching the fire escape in the event of a fire blocking the primary exit route.

However, the rooms without fire escapes still lack bedroom door locks. After receiving complaints from several students about the lack of bedroom door locks and suggestions that locks should be added, the Housing Services Committee of the Resident Student Association sprung to action contacting the administration to see why the rooms that could have locks did not and to advocate for the installation of locks.

The biggest reason why locks should be installed, from the feedback that RSA has received, is for security reasons. Students who are not able to lock their bedroom doors are concerned about theft. While the main apartment door can be locked, an individual student cannot control who is in their apartment, especially when they are not home, and the addition of locks on bedroom doors would provide additional security and peace of mind.

The Housing Services committee is continuing to work on this project. Our hope is that locks can be installed where possible by the Fall move-in so that if any of you are living in the aforementioned buildings next year, you'll have the benefit of a lock on your bedroom door.

If you ever have any ideas for improving the residence halls, feel free to e-mail us.