Building Security
When I visited my cousin Danielle in Milwaukee on Sunday, I had to get a guest pass just to get past the lobby of her dorm building. It involved filling out a form on a computer (first her student ID, then ALL of my info), getting our picture taken together at security, then going through a separate gate, where we showed both of our IDs to pass. And a secret handshake (not).
Jeez.
On the back of the pass, it says (among other things) I have to pay $5 for another if I lose this one.
I understand the security features and why they are doing this. But I just wanted to use her bathroom when I got there! I was worried the 15-minute free parking would expire before we even got to her room (it didn’t).
When I was in college (oh gosh, here we go, like I am old or something…) we just had keys to get in to our building. That was it. Maybe it was even unlocked during certain hours. I don’t recall. We definitely didn’t have these passes (and I lived in student housing from fall of 2002 to spring of 2004, just for the record).
What’s the craziest security you’ve had to go through to get in to a building? What was it like at your dorm/school? Do you have to go through security where you work?
At my office, I have to show an ID to get in. Guests have to go through a metal detector. When I first started working in my building, President-Elect Obama was still in it, so we ALL had to go through security like that every morning. Fun times. Ha. It wasn’t that bad.
I did see the full body scanners at *O’Hare the last time I was there, but it was unclear who they were selecting to go through them. I can’t remember any crazy security at the Vatican or White House or anything. Maybe I can’t remember anything because it’s only gotten crazy lately.
*Evil
Themocracy
The craziest security: the Clintons attended my church every Sunday when Bill was President (they still stop by once in a while) and so we had to go through metal detectors at church! There were snipers on all the rooftops — I just remember having a SS agent dig through my little purse on Easter and laughing at all the candy I had stored inside. 😉 (I was a little kid, not recently!)
Wow, that is cool that he went/goes to your church! LOL about the candy! Hey, no shame even if it was recent!
I could have sworn that we were going to get shot trying to get into the Hungarian Parliamentary building. English wasn’t working out so well, and everyone had some sort of camera or pile of change that was setting off the metal detector, and the giant men with automatic rifles weren’t all that patient… luckily it worked out in the end.
hope you got to pee!!
Jeez, that is pretty strict for a dorm! The worst I have been through is when we have to go to the American embassy to get my kids and my passports updated every so many years. They are incredibly paranoid there – when one of my kids was a baby they even frisked the baby! But an embassy is a place you would expect crazy security – not a college dorm!
I agree: embassy – yes, dorm – no… 🙂 They frisked the baby though? Jeez!
I never lived on campus while in college but I had friends who did. The dorms were always unlocked and open to visitors during the daytime and I think they had to sign me in by an RA if I visited at night. No big deal. Not even sure if they checked my ID. (I graduated in 2003).
I have to have an ID (to get through a turn-style) and then go through a metal detector and my bag has to get x-ray scanned when I get to work everyday (and if I re-enter at all during the day). I pretty much know which shoes/belts/accessories I can’t wear through a metal detector because of this.
I bet security like that is very common in DC!
Dorm security has seriously changed since I was a freshman! But I can understand it with all that’s happened on college campuses as of late. We just walked through the lobby of ours without identifying ourselves… and only needed our id at night after the doors locked (from like 11 pm to 7 am or something) and we needed to swipe our cards to get in.
When I was in college our dorm was unlocked all day and then during night hours our key opened the locked door to the dorm as well as our room. The one back outside door was always propped open on weekends so boyfriends could sneak in. Security knew, they saw it, and left it alone because it didn’t matter.
When we took our kids to see our college recently, all the doors are locked you can’t get in anywhere unless you know someone or have a key. We are old so we don’t really know anyone who goes there and were bummed out that we couldn’t show the kids our old rooms. We did eventually find someone to let us into the bathroom for the kids but seriously, security got so much tighter in the last few years.
It’s pretty sad that things have gotten to where you can’t go to your friend’s house to pee without filling out a form.
BTW, to answer your question about injuries…I don’t think he was talking about number of injuries, but about the percentage of people who run who got/get injured. So even if more people run, the percentage could have stayed the same, but it has increased. Hope I’m making sense 🙂
That does make sense! Thanks for explaining! I just wondered because we heard this story about how runners have slowed down… I think it’s just because MORE people are running, and slower that it makes it seem like everyone is slower. Now I’m not making sense!
I have to show my ID to the security guard to get into my office building — because, you know, someone with a valid ID totally isn’t capable of blowing up the building.
Actually, I always wondered — what if the SECURITY GUARD wanted to blow up the building?!
<3 <3
I always wonder that too…
I would say that’s pretty insane for a college dorm!!! In our college dorm, visitors did have to turn in their ID and sign in to what room they were going to while they were in the building. This was 2002-2005
That is pretty extreme for college but I guess now adays you an’t be too sure.
We have key cards to access particular areas of our building and they limit where you can go. But we have been cleared for some government clearance so we have to be tight.
Living in London for school in 2004 was definitely the craziest security experience. My school was scared that we may be targeted as Americans, so the entire campus was gated and key card was required to get from building to building. Next most involved, though, was getting into see a session of Parliament. That was the closest I have ever come to a strip search 🙂
I have to swipe into my own office now, and it took almost four weeks for the university to get around to giving us access! It SUCKEDDDD.
Hmmm, I guess airport security has been my worst experience so far…
When I was in college (1998-2002) I lived on campus for 3 years. All the dorms were locked at all times and we had to swipe our ID card to get into our dorm. Our ID card only gave us access to our own dorm. If we had friends visiting or we went to visit someone in another dorm you had to use the phone outside the door to call them and have them come down to the door to let you in. However, once you were in you were in. Technically all visitors were supposed to be escorted by a resident at all times but that didn’t always happen.
At my old job I did have to go through the metal detector and put my bag through the x-ray machine every day. I just found out when I visited last week, though, that now if you’ve worked there for a year you get a card that lets you bypass security! I’m jealous!
waaaay back in my day (1998-2002) i think the dorms were only locked at night, and i believe i had a “real” key for my own dorm room (which we virtually never locked). at work we have badges we need to swipe to enter one of the buildings, and to use the elevators in another.
ha, i think those full-body scanners are kind of neat! i actually asked to be selected to go through one the first time i saw them at DCA.
Wow, I have never heard of security that strict before. When I was in college (this is a long time ago, sadly), anyone could just walk right into the dorm. It was probably locked at night, but there was no check in desk or anything. Since I work a lot with pharmaceutical companies, I deal with a ton of security — name badges very similar to what you had, my photo taken, sign in sheets, etc. I used to work in an advertising agency for a health insurance company and, man, because of all the HIPAA laws, that place was on lockdown. You went in, signed in, swiped a badge that opened these special glass doors that closed right after you so nobody else can get in. It was weird. Now, my work building doesn’t have any security, but when I go to client offices, there’s always something. One place checks under my car for bombs…every time.
Car bombs?! Jeez!
Living in NYC, I’m pretty used to the extra security. Soldiers with machine guns at the ready in Times Square, Police cameras everywhere, and security at work. We have a key tag we need to swipe when we enter the blg. If we forget it, we have to go to the desk and tell them who we are and where we work and they verify it with your company.
I’m glad that the dorm has such tight security – it’s a hassle but well worth it, I think.
I went through the O’Hare body scanners in August. I once changed my flight which apparently makes you a security target and I was searched like you wouldn’t believe. I think that was in Ohio. NUTS!
I had and ID card that had to be swiped to get into any dorm in college (1997-01). We only had access to certain buildings of course. We also had to check in at desks but I never did after the first week!
The O’Hare body scanners are now for everyone depending on which line you get into. Lately they have been selecting every other or ever 3rd person to go through the scanner.
I’m a high school teacher and I gotta say…I like the added security. I know…if someone really wanted to get into the building, they could. However, our school now locks the doors all day so people have to come in the front door. Then, they have to present an ID and get it scanned before they can come in. It makes me feel better knowing we have many eyes watching the building and keeping us “safe”.
Jeez, that would make skipping classes a lot more difficult! 😉
We have the magnetic swipey badge thingy to get into our office. Mind you our building has many more offices in it, Doctor’s offices, Lawyers etc so anyone can get into the building itself. But only those with a badge can get into our actual office on our floor.
All we had when I lived on campus was a badge to swipe to get in the halls and then a room key. But anyone can get in, if you just wait around for someone to go in, lol. Nothing like that! I mean, it’s good but probably a big headache for you!
So!!! I know this is off the question but I was just sitting reading your blog and looking at your photos and it came to my attention that I wanted to know forever . How do u take photos while your running?? Do u have like a littel camera?? 🙂 I asked your brother but he had no idea.
Thanks for asking! 🙂 I actually use our Canon Elph and just strap it on to my hydration belt (it has a belt loop strap thing)! In the picture here, you can kind of see it in the black case, next to my phone and near my watch on my left hand. I put it there and pull it out to snap pics while running!
During my last run, it POURED and I was SO WORRIED about the camera! I knew Steven would be upset if I ruined it (it’s his) but it’s (mostly) okay. Phew!
It would be nice to have a teeny tiny camera. That one, along with my four water bottles, weighs me down!
Jeeeeeeeeeeeze. Towers didn’t even have keys on the doors. Which ones were you in?
I am pretty sure that the girl’s floors they locked the elevators after 11pm or something. Before that? Free-for-all. Bow chicka bow bowww
LOL. You crack me up.
Well, the funny thing is, my cousin’s bf stayed with her Friday and Saturday night. And they are okay with that… but have the security lockdown?
I was in Helser (next to Friley)! Now I think Helser is torn down!
The security just to get into the school I work at is crazy but the most insane I ever saw was a few months after 9-11 when I flew out of Newark. It was incredible- and had it been like that all along at all airports, 9-11 would never had happened.
Wow, that’s crazy security! I graduated about 5 years ago, and it was never like that. I think the most security I’ve had to go through was at some airport, I don’t remember which one, but I was “selected” to have a full body scan/feel-down, etc. Funnnn times.
My dorm building had locks on the outside doors and you needed your student id to get in. Only people who lived in the building could open the doors. Everyone else had to use the front door when the building was open. I lived in an all-girls dorm, so boys aren’t allowed to go up onto the living floors alone. They have to wait for a girl to come down and get them.