Universal Keycard Access Within Council's Sights

Universal, 24-hour keycard access for Harvard students came one step closer to fruition last night in Sever 113, as the Undergraduate Council unanimously passed a resolution to encourage House masters to open their doors to residents of other Houses.

Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 has signed off on the move to 24-hour access, pending the approval of individual House masters and House Committees.

Council members will meet Thursday with House masters to negotiate and, they hope, finalize plans for universal access for all undergraduates at all hours of the day.

Council President Paul A. Gusmorino said he was "optimistic" that the masters would agree to the council's terms.

The council hopes to extend last year's universal keycard decisions, which resulted in universal access in all the houses until 1 a.m.

Council members called the last two semesters a "trial period," during which the College's administration would see how universal access until 1 a.m. affected campus life.

The bill's text notes that the Houses have not seen an appreciable increase in crime since the implementation of partial universal access.

Todd E. Plants '01, returning chair of the council's Student Affairs Committee, and one of the bill's sponsors, said that safety is actually a main reason for implementing full keycard access.

"If a student is being followed late at night, she needs to be able to swipe into [the closest house]," Plants said.

Only Quincy House's masters have already instituted full-time access for all of the campus' undergraduates.

Last night's other important vote saw the council unanimously support the creation of a "UC Events Calendar," which would appear on the council's website and would inform students about a variety of events throughout the campus.

Newly elected Finance Committee Chair Trisha S. Dasgupta '03, one of the bill's sponsors, said the calendar will include the activities of groups to which the council gives grants.

Gusmorino said that athletic events and speakers at the Institute of Politics would be among the other items listed on the calendar.

Some council members expressed concern over including on the calendar such events as private room parties.

In response, Dasgupta said that "the calendar will list student groups first and foremost. If you're having a party in your room, it won't be there. That's what the Republican party list is for."

The calendar is scheduled for launch Feb. 21.

Both the calendar and universal keycard access were elements of Gusmorino's and Vice-President Sujean S. Lee '03's campaign platform.

The only other bill on last night's council agenda called for a $20 allocation to institute a "Valentine's Datamatch," a website run by the Harvard Computer Society that tries to match students romantically based on their responses to a series of questions.

Sponsored Melissa A. Eccleston '04, recently elected chair of the council's Campus Life Committee, the bill passed unanimously.