In an effort to make Penn State dorms safer, the Association of Residence Hall Students and the Office of Residence Life are hoping to add more security measures such as a 24-hour card access system and lockable shower stalls.

"With safety being such an important concern to students and parents, it's something we're constantly looking at," said Karen Feldbaum, associate director of residence life.

One idea being considered is a full time lockdown system for dorms similar to a plan proposed by the Undergraduate Student Government last semester.

If the system were put in place, students would always need to swipe their identification cards to enter the dorms. Now, the buildings are only locked between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. with the exception of the 24-hour lockdown system in place during home football game weekends.

But ARHS President Matthew Sliwa said the change would only be effective if students agreed to support it.

"It depends if students will be willing to work with it," he said.

East Halls resident Rebecca Lobus (freshman-nondegree) thinks taking individual precautionary measures would be more effective than simply locking dormitories during the daytime.

People who do not necessarily live in her dorm enter it all the time by "piggybacking," entering the building after someone else swipes a valid card, Lobus said.

She does not think 24-hour lockdown will fix this problem.

"If they really want to get in, they'll get in," Lobus said.

ARHS and the Office of Residence Life are also looking into replacing shower curtains with lockable doors in dorm bathrooms.

"We're very close to that initiative being implemented. It's been in the works for some time now," Feldbaum said.

Among other safety precautions, ARHS has been considering installing touch pad entry panels on individual doors rather than locks using keys or locking mechanisms that cause student doors to lock from the outside every time they are closed.

Lisa Scorzafave (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) is the roommate of one of the women involved in the Snyder Hall assault last September. Although housing has not implemented any of these changes yet, Scorzafave said she feels safe in her dorm.

"I've felt more that it (the assault) was an isolated incident," Scorzafave said.

Educational programs that will alert students as to the importance of safety in the residence halls are also being considered. ARHS is looking into eventually running a short, educational documentary on residence hall safety before feature movies on the campus movie channel.

"That's something we're looking into," Sliwa said. "How feasible it is, we're not sure. It might not take place until next semester," he said.

Until then, Sliwa strongly encourages students to lock their doors.

"Remember to lock your doors when you leave or go to bed. I don't want people to be mesmerized at how safe State College is. Things can and do happen here."