Ryan Boyle
Journal Staff
Starting this semester, students visiting the 73 Tremont office building will be required to check in with security to obtain a day pass before being granted access to the building. The new security policy does not affect students who are visiting the library areas of the building. Prior to this change instituted in August by the University, students could freely move throughout the building without needing to check in with security. Staff members only needed keycard access afterhours to access the elevators.
The new policy requires all students, staff members, and visitors check in with security before they are allowed access to the rest of the building. Students and visitors must present valid identification to be scanned into the system before a day pass is printed. Staff members with offices in 73 Tremont have a special ID to tap against a card reader that doesn’t require a scan.
Officials said the sudden change was prompted by the lenders and the insurance company of the building. Greg Gatlin, Director of Public Affairs, explains since 73 Tremont is considered a “high profile, prominent location,” the building management expects “a first class security system, and the same level of security as in other downtown locations.”
“It’s not effective and should have been implemented when other tenants were in the building. Now it just causesa long line,” said sophomore Martha Alvarado. The current procedure requires the security guard to scan the ID and wait for the system to process it. Once the system logs the information, a badge is printed and given to the student. With multiple students, visitors, and staff all accessing the building, a short line can form at times since everybody needs to check in.
In regards to the current process, Gatlin also said the University is “trying to speed up the process. The system is only a month old, so were still in the very early stages. We do want to make it quick and convenient for students to enter the building, while maintaining a high level of security.”
Sophomore Yancy Brown is not bothered by the changes or delays. “I think it’s efficient. Security wise not everyone goes to Suffolk, so it’s smart so people are there to see their professor and not to fool around,” he said.
Students wishing to express their input on the matter may post a comment to the online version of this article at https://thesuffolkjournal.com.
Nickolas Connery • Sep 26, 2010 at 8:27 pm
As an employee of a company located in a skyscraper on Boylston Street in the Back Bay, I was issued an ID Card which has a tap feature, like the MBTA Charlie Card. It allows me access to all areas of the building where the my employee rank (non-executive) permits, and denies access to non-company areas , or company areas off limits to my rank. Even though the building is located on Boston’s “parade route” and the surroundng area is inundated several times a year by “the public” (during the Marathon, the Gay Pride Parade, and any victory parade for a local pro team) , the company has been very successful at preventing unauthorized entry, while minimizing inconvenience to its staff.
As a new student at Suffolk (JD-MBA Evening Div), I am wondering why certain policies of the schools within the University seem so disjointed. The Law School issues a different ID than the rest of the University, and it will then have to be updated with a sticker every year until I graduate or leave school. Then, According to this article, neither student ID would be good to visit a business prof. at 73 Tremont. This is absurd!!
I think Suffolk should issue a single ID card to each student, faculty or staff member of any school in the University. The card should be like the IDs at my company, programmed with profile info for authorized persons, so as to allow access to all appropriate Univsity areas, based on status within the University (excluding grad students from the dorm buildings, for example) and able to be deactivated if a student leaves school, or coinverted to Alumni status if a student graduates.
David • Sep 27, 2010 at 10:38 pm
The same lenders and insurers that gave us the financial meltdown. On my way to the library at least a half dozen people entered the back entrance without id. Please elaborate how this is secure ?
Confused
Ryan • Sep 29, 2010 at 12:07 am
Hi David,
Students checking into the library are not required to obtain a day pass. Students entering the office floors of the building, are required to obtain a day pass. Hopefully that helps you.