As a senior here at Southern University, I have gained a great deal of knowledge from both students and administrators. However, one of the issues that has stood out to me the most is the concern for student security and safety. During my very first semester, a major shootout occurred just near campus during Homecoming, which left many of us shaken. Then, in the fall semester of my sophomore year, the university switched to virtual IDs. One would think that after such tragic events, physical IDs would remain in place. Since the switch, I have seen many people screenshot their IDs and share them with individuals who do not live on campus, allowing their friends access to the university grounds and more.
At the start of this fall semester, I noticed long lines stretching from the checkpoint to the Mini Dome. Traffic was backed up because security was strictly enforcing entry. While that effort showed a desire to be more thorough, I couldn’t help but notice that on regular days, security is far less consistent. Cars are often waved through without IDs or parking passes being checked. This raises the question: why the sudden change in enforcement, when previously it has never been treated as a serious matter?
In my opinion, switching back to physical IDs could help eliminate the issue of ID sharing and prevent non-students from easily entering campus. Most importantly, if the university is going to implement stricter security measures, consistency is key. Only then will students notice the difference and truly feel safe on campus.
