As the 2014-15 academic year at Gustavus begins, we are all introduced, to the euphoria of friends, activities, groups and living on our own.

There are also the toils of one hundred page reading assignments, a bad roommate, or a dreaded pop quiz. No matter the various reasons for each of us coming here, there is something to keep in mind regardless of our differences: a new year at GAC has begun.

There are also some new changes from the last year. Along with a new president and some renovations in campus buildings, all students are now able to, with their campus ID card, enter any residence hall between 8:00a.m. and 11:00p.m. This is different from last year where you could only get in your own residence hall, needing to be let in by either friends or faculty if you were trying to enter another hall. Or, if you were the lucky, sneaky type, you could get in as someone else was opening the door.

That was the past, and we now have this ability along with several opinions as to what this means for us students at GAC. Junior Griffin Reed, a CF in Prairie View has a relatively optimistic outlook.

“It seems like a genuinely well intentioned and useful change from last year. The chance is there for people to take advantage of it, but most people will likely use it for the extra convenience”, Reed said.

Reed continued on to say that the general feeling he had gotten from others is excitement, no longer having to wait for friends to let you in or being able to access buildings on your own if you have things to do.

Sophomore Amanda Downs, a CF in Pittman, had a more reserved perception of the new accessibility.

“It sounded cool initially, but I’m not so sure anymore. A big issue that comes to mind is that the cards are more valuable now. Someone not from Gustavus could get a fallen or misplaced card and go in anywhere.”

Downs said that she feels those on her floor in Pittman seem responsible, however, and the feeling is “chill”, but it would be foolish to believe there aren’t people out there who won’t take advantage of it. Still, her overall feeling is excitement and she wants to keep an optimistic view of how these cards will work out.

Andy Lupinek and Sadie Laplante, Sophomores who live in Rundstrom and Sorenson, respectively, believe it may not be necessary or worth the risk.

“It opens up more chance for trouble, even though it sounds like a great change. It can lead to theft or other things and now it’s more possible that the people responsible could be from another dorm than those living wherever something happened”, Lupinek said.

LaPlante was in agreement, though her thoughts were marginally less critical.

“It’s iffy and definitely not as great as a lot of people are seeing it, but it has been convenient for me. Nothing has happened yet so far as I’ve seen”, LaPlante said.

Both were also in agreement that most people wouldn’t take advantage of the change in accessibility with the new cards, though you can never be too careful.

A junior from Southwest shared his love for the idea. “It doesn’t have to be a problem if you look at it for the right reasons. I’ve heard from others they think it’s risky, but it’s nice to see friends more easily without the hassle of waiting to be let in.” The positives out weigh the potential negatives, and the convenience is fantastic. It’s been a helpful change in this junior’s opinion in comparison to the hassle from previous years where we spend a lot of money to be at college where our time as students is valuable.

Overall, there appears to be a collective consensus that while the change with cards allows the buiuldings to be more accessible, there are potential flaws in the new system that could lead to issues down the road. All of those interviewed stated the innovation is still quite early in its development so only time will tell how things go.

Furthermore, they all additionally agreed that there is a “safety net.” The cards will let you get into any residence hall, but they will only let you into your own hall from 11:00p.m. to 8:00a.m.

That net prohibits unrestrained access, therefore there is still a sense of caution toward students potentially going where they should not and doing that which is not of the character we should see in a Gustavus student. Enjoy the new sense of freedom you’ve been given, but keep in mind that unlike an entitlement, violating a privilege can have unfortunate consequences.

-Mason Kruize