Campus security and safety can be big influences on a student’s decision on where to attend school.

ULM has a total of seven on-campus living options and five of these buildings are equipped with security systems that restrict access to building residents only. Madison and Masur Hall lack these security measures that keep out unauthorized visitors.

Junior pre-dental hygiene major Tiara Johnson never walked by herself at night when living in Masur Hall. It seemed risky and left her feeling isolated. She always thought of how easy it would be for someone to follow a girl to her door and force their way into her room.

“I feel safer living in Ouachita because I know that no one is in the building that shouldn’t be,” said Johnson. “While I lived in Masur I would notice that anybody could wander up to the building and courtyard and there would be a lot of guys wandering around the parking lots. It felt unsafe and made me nervous, which is why I moved.”

Sophomore criminal justice major Darren Rindt believes that Masur Hall is definitely more dangerous than living somewhere like Commons II, especially for girls. He said we have no idea who is really living around us.

“Honestly the university should look into making the entire campus safer,” said Rindt. “Walking back from concerts put on in Brown Auditorium always seemed risky to me. You’re in an unpopulated area…anyone could come up and attack you and you wouldn’t be able to do much.”

But Anna Cobb, a sophomore pre-nursing major and Masur Hall RA, is working to make sure Masur Hall protects their girls

“Masur is an older building so we can’t really install a major security system but we make sure it is as safe as possible for the residents that live there,” said Cobb. “We stress the importance of locking your door and I plan on holding workshops for self-defense and sexual harassment.”

The RAs in Masur Hall make nightly rounds to ensure visiting hours are enforced and the campus police patrol the area heavily at night.

The common room of Masur Hall will soon be receiving a security system similar to those in other dorms, restricting access to residents of the building only.

In the meantime, Rindt believes that the police are doing the best they can to protect us with the budget they have to work with.