By Adam Coe
Sociability will not be affected by the change from coded locks to the Onity card system in Derwent College according to Provost Dr Rob Aitken.
The switch had been opposed by previous JCRCs because they felt it would compromise Derwent’s inter-block social atmosphere.
Aitken told Vision that this year’s committee had not continued with the traditional resistance to key cards due to a conviction that the “friendship network that extends between blocks” will be upheld through the catering provision, and inter-block Freshers’ events in October.#
Derwent residents were expecting to come back to the newly implemented system at the beginning of term.
However, the installation was delayed when it became apparent that the cards to open the doors would not be made available for the start of term. Previously the Onity card system was only installed in Block A. However, at the time of going to print, work had begun on intstalling the other key card systems.
Aitken went on to explain that “the door locks are being changed to improve security in the main Derwent residential blocks. Over the past couple of years there have been some concerns that the security of the number locks was easily compromised by people giving out the door codes.”
Last year, Vision reported on a spat of thefts directly from Derwent College rooms. It was at that time that questions were highlighted over Derwent’s position behind the other colleges which had already implemented the Onity card system.
YUSU Welfare Officer Laura Borisovaite told Vision that she is “in contact with the Derwent JCRC to make sure we do what is best for their students.”