Many students have been faced with the decision of whether to let somebody into a dorm.

Maybe the outsider forgot his or her ID card or needs to study with someone. But when its 20 degrees and blustery, students usually hustle to open the door. If someone refuses to let another person in, that individual may be viewed as rude.

But maybe that person is fulfilling his or her duty to the rest of the residents. The people on the other side of the dorm doors are usually harmless. They most often are forgetful students, residents’ friends or pizza-delivery guys.

However, there is no way of knowing for sure, and residents take chances every time they open the door for someone. It might not be efficient to invent a stricter security system for our residence halls, but the issue needs some attention.

Occasionally someone will hold the door for others who are burdened with bags of groceries or laundry. Most residents usually succumb to a person knocking on the door.

But is it fair to allow random food delivery people into dorms? Residence halls, like freshman dorms and the Living/Learning Center, house large numbers of students who don’t all know each other.

Any lunatic could make his or her way into our dorms because it is the norm to let a brother in. It might not hurt to have a check-in system to protect everyone from students who let in irresponsible guests.

Students shouldn’t feel the weight of the decision to let a person in, knowing that the person they just held the door for could commit terrible acts. Rather, this matter should weigh on the consciences of the school officials who have power to change the system.

An Oct. 6 alleged beating in Laurel Hall should be the catalyst for a security review. Two of the three assailants were from Laurel Hall, so they didn’t need someone to let them in.

But it may be time for a review of security measures, including Resident Assistant duties regarding regular building security checks.

We’re not advocating a ban of nonresidents from dorms or Draconian security measures that would impede interaction among students.

We share a sense of horror, however, at the severity of the alleged beating and worry that UPJ could become what we don’t want it to be.