GW INTRUDER PKG

The dorm security at George Washington University is under scrutiny in the wake of an attempted burglary last week.

Mergen Battugla has been formally arrested today, after getting into an altercation with police officers in the West End apartment building. He was taken into custody early Friday morning, after entering a female student's room. Police officers found Battugla scuffling with male students.

The break-in emphasized the lack of security at many of GWU's residence halls. While most traditional dorms have a front desk, where an R.A. or police officer can check ID's, many upperclassmen apartment buildings rely solely on a key card for entry. Battugla reportedly waited outside the building until another student opened the door, then snuck in behind him or her. This practice is known as "piggybacking."

Across town, at American University, dorms are under tighter security. Resident Assistants are stationed at front desks in every dorm building 24 hours a day. After using student ID's to swipe into the building, students must show their ID picture to the R.A. on duty.

Over the summer, the University installed another layer of security in McDowell Hall. Now, students must swipe a second time to enter the stairwell or use the elevator.

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News & Politics

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