Dorm rooms safer if doors are locked

The advice, "lock your doors" may be obvious to some, but while many have grown comfortable in their surroundings here on IU's campus, an unlocked door can be an open invitation to uninvited guests.\nAccording to IU Police Department Sgt. Tim Lewis, a female resident of Foster-Martin awoke at 2 a.m. Monday to what appeared to be a male student standing next to her desk. Thinking nothing of it, she went back to sleep thinking he was probably a friend of her roommate's. \nThe next morning, the girl mentioned the incident to her roommate who in turn said she knew of no one who would freely enter the room.\nLewis said the girls didn't file a report until 10:37 p.m. Wednesday. \n"The easiest way to keep uninvited people from entering is by locking your doors," Lewis said.\nIn early September, a number of safety issues occurred at Wright Quad where between Sept. 5 and 7, numerous incidents were reported in which a perpetrator would enter unlocked dorm rooms usually between the hours of 4 and 5 a.m. A number of these cases involved the intruding male touching the female in some way. Later in the month, another female resident of Wright reported a male, who she eventually fought off, had attacked her in the courtyard.\nDespite these incidents, however, Lewis said the recent Foster case hasn't currently been linked to those at Wright.\nBeth Rosh, a freshman Foster resident, said she still feels safe in the residence halls even though there have been breaches in safety.\n"I think the dorms are safe," Rosh said. "Especially because you need a key to get in everywhere. People just need to keep their doors locked if they don't want people coming in."\nAccording to IU's "Commission on Personal Safety" Web site, individuals need to immediately report suspicious cases and persons to the police and to do so as completely and accurately as possible. On the Web site, there are numerous links and information concerning the Safety Escort Service, incidents teams and organizations.\n"People need to verify and call us whenever anything happens," Lewis said. "That's why we're here"