The construction of new security fencing for the Unit 3 residence hall will conclude at the end of this month, while construction of Unit 2’s fencing is set to be completed at the beginning of the spring semester.
Construction on Unit 2’s security fence began fall 2024, while construction for Unit 3 began summer 2025.
Before construction, the entrances to the residence hall courtyards were unobstructed.The completed fencing will block the entrances to the two courtyards and will require students to scan their Cal 1 Card in order to enter.
Campus spokesperson Adam Ratliff said this new addition to the residence halls will help improve dorm safety.
“We at (Residential & Student Service Programs) have been listening to student, parent, and community feedback regarding ideas to enhance safety for our residents, including gate construction where feasible,” Ratliff said in an email.
Rebecca Nassar, a Unit 3 resident, said she was happy to see the new fencing put up, and added that she believes the fencing will help improve the overall security around the residence hall.
Nassar said she often sees people passing through the courtyard at night who are not residents. She also noted that while Unit 3 has other safety measures including security guards, she believes the security fencing will provide a more permanent solution.
“This is important, especially for the dorms — like Unit 3 — that are right in the middle of a busy area, like Telegraph, where there’s a lot of people,” Nassar said. “I think (this measure) is very important for student safety.”
According to Ratliff, Unit 2’s fencing has already been completed. However, an issue with the fences’ locking technology has prevented the fences from being able to properly lock. Unit 2 resident Varnika Seri added that the security fences haven’t been locked since she moved in.
Ratliff said campus hopes to resolve the issue by the beginning of this spring. There are currently no plans in place to expand the security fencing project to other dorm buildings.
Shayna Eiselman, a Clark Kerr resident, said the unfenced Clark Kerr campus often has non-residents passing through. She said she has experienced some safety issues, and she believes security at Clark Kerr could be improved.
She recalls an instance this fall where a non-resident stayed for a prolonged period in one of the residence hall’s bathrooms. Safe Bears, a parent and community safety organization, also reported the incident.
Ratliff said campus would assess how successful the Units 2 and 3 gates are and decide whether to expand further security fencing construction to other residence halls.
“While there are currently no confirmed plans to extend the gating project to other residential halls, we continually assess the needs of all campus housing facilities and may consider similar projects in the future,” Ratliff said in the email.