In Fall 2016 a convicted felon walked onto campus and entered an RA’s room in Highland Hall. He was found in her room wearing her clothes, which was an incredibly invasive and traumatizing incident. When University Residences asked what could be done to improve the affected RA’s comfort level in the residence halls, she proposed an external gate be installed around the entirety of Highland, like the majority of other residence halls, and her door should be equipped with an additional latch. Neither of these requests were granted nor addressed. Due to the lack of response from University Residences, the same RA was a target of sexual assault threats written on her door, during winter quarter.

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This lack of regard for Resident Adviser and resident safety is appalling. Highland and other residence halls accessible by the public, including Beta-Gamma and Birnam Wood, should be given the same consideration that is given to all other residence halls on campus. Resident advisers placed in these communities should not have to risk their bodies, minds, or comfort, in order to perform their duties. As it stands, copies of resident keys must be secured behind at least two locked doors. We are demanding that University Residences dedicate the same level of security to residents by installing a system that requires two locked doors between the outside community and the room.