A pilot card-access program, designed to increase security without unduly impeding foot traffic through buildings on major cross-campus routes, will be put into effect on the east part of campus in mid-August.
The program will make use of magnetic cards to control perimeter building-entry to a number of buildings in the east campus area. Security will be increased by restricting after-hours access to these various east campus buildings. For community convenience, access by card entry will be permitted to first-floor areas in these buildings which are heavily used by people coming and going to the T at Kendall Square. After-hour access to upper floors in these buildings will be restricted to those with specific business in those areas.
The plan was announced by Campus Police Chief Anne P. Glavin and Physical Plant Director Victoria V. Sirianni.
"The plan is not perfect," they said, "but it is a start toward tighter access control on campus. It is the first pilot project involving major routes of foot travel across campus that will use card access."
The pilot program developed as a result of a meeting in February 1994. A group of concerned administrative staff members from several East campus academic buildings (66, E15, E25, E23 and E17) met with Chief Glavin and Ms. Sirianni and members of their staffs. Concerns of access control and security of persons and property were spelled out.
"The group was especially concerned about the east/west flow of MIT community pedestrian traffic through the first floor of Buildings E25 and 66 and its impact on these buildings," Chief Glavin said.
"The consensus was that tighter building-access control was definitely needed."
Readers for magnetic cards will be placed at the Building E25/E23 atrium; the first floor of Building 66, near the 66/56 breezeway; the 56 breezeway doors, and the 50 Ames Street entrance to Building E19.
The plan also includes securing other exterior doors and interior upper-level doors in various areas of east campus.
Information on how to obtain the entry cards will be made available as the start of the project nears. Community members who have questions about the pilot program can contact either Chief Glavin or Ms. Sirianni.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on June 7, 1995.
