Residence halls across campus have locked doors, closed gates and scrutinized IDs in an effort to increase security.
A plan to improve safety around the halls has been in place since last year, but wasn't put into effect until Sept. 1.
Georgeana Montoya, the assistant director for Residential Life Operations, said Residential Life is always looking at various ways to make residence halls safer.
"As things are growing, we're trying to tighten up little by little as opposed to doing it all at once," she said. "We're always looking to see what's next, how we can improve."
Residents are now allowed to enter their halls only through the front door and must show their ID. Last year, students were able to enter through any door, and ID checks were not as tightly enforced.
A lack of desk assistants for the halls caused the delay, said Kevin Cook, Residential Life director.
"We had planned on hiring more desk assistants so some could concentrate on desk functions and some on checking IDs, but we were unable to hire enough," he said.
As a way to compensate for the lack of desk assistants, doors surrounding the halls were locked to force residents to enter through the front door and pass by on-duty staff.
"It allows the [desk assistant] to say 'can I help you' and recognize a face," Cook said. "It provides a greater understanding of what is going on."
On weekdays, doors to the front desks are open, but at night and on the weekends, front doors require a resident's key to enter.
"We have a big push on the weekends," Cook said. "People try to walk through residence halls, so we try to lock things down."
Architecture freshman Jon Gould, who lives in McClintock Hall, doesn't like the new security measures.
"The main problem is inconvenience," he said. "When you take out trash or bring groceries into the hall, you have to walk from the parking lot, through the front office and show your ID. It's a real pain."
A resident assistant from Palo Verde East, who asked to remain nameless because it is against Residential Life policy to speak with the press, had similar sentiments about constantly checking IDs.
"Once someone gets in, they probably look like a resident, unless they look suspicious," he said.
The RA thinks the extra measures could help in the future, but now it seems to be a lot of extra work.
"As of right now, it's just annoying," he said.
Cook anticipated a slew of varying responses toward the changes.
"You hear both [positive and negative]," he said. "The staff has been pleased, because they feel like they aren't pulled in all different directions."
A new card-swiping system is expected soon to force residents entering their hall to swipe their SunCard before they are allowed admittance.
Cook said the system could be implemented in the first hall within the next three weeks, though there is no word as to which hall would be first. All other halls would be added week by week.
Cook said the system would cost anywhere from $250,000 to $400,000, in addition to the $200,000 spent over the last 18 months for the current security measures.
Additional police aides have also been hired to help with security.
There are currently two more aides stationed in Manzanita and Palo Verde Main Thursday, Friday and Saturday to help with the typically large crowds.
"At night there's often a mad rush of students coming by the desk," Cook said. "It's too much for a single student."
Cook said the point of adding the extra aides was not to check bags or look at what residents were bringing into the halls, but to keep an eye on who comes in and who leaves.
"Just having that presence around is good," he said.
Most of the additional security measures have taken place in residence halls on north campus because of limited funds.
Money wise, north campus was the best option because there are more students, especially freshman, Cook said.
Cook believes the safe atmosphere is worth the expense.
"We have to strike a balance," Cook said. "We don't want them to feel like they're in prison but feel secure because it's their home."
Reach the reporter at kristi.eaton@asu.edu.
