A new safety initiative has come to the dorms. It’s called the “Lock Your Door” program.

Amy Boyle, director of Residential Life, said that University Police and Residential Life staff will complete rounds of residence hall floors on a rotating basis and check to see if the doors are unlocked. The first of these checks happened on Oct. 11.

“If a door is unlocked and no students are there, [University Police and Residential Life staff] will leave a note behind on the inside of the door and lock the door,” Boyle said.

If a student is locked out of their room because of one of these checks, they will not be charged for calling an on duty desk assistant or resident assistant.

“If a student is locked out because of the lock your door program, the student should simply present the note to the RA or office staff member at the time of lock out,” Boyle said.

In regard to the frequency of checks, Boyle said that one to two floors will be checked each night by a University Police officer and a residential life staff member.

“The program will then expand to daytime hours and will be executed by two LUPD officers or one officer and one res life staff member,” she said.

Boyle added that this program has been spearheaded by University Police to increase on-campus security and has been in the works since last spring.

“We ran a similar program years ago, and found it to be an effective reminder to lock your room door,” Boyle said.

She said that her department had sent an email to residential students and staff members to inform them about the program.

But not everyone was aware.

Paige Carter, public relations sophomore, said that she didn’t hear about the new program.

Carter, who lives in Carrollton, said she locks her own room door but never her suite door. After being made aware of the new program, though, she said her approach will change.

“After hearing about this, all doors will be closed and locked,” Carter said.

For students whose doors are locked when checked, they will be entered for a chance to win a prize.

“Once we have completed a full cycle on campus, we will enter all names and raffle Wolfbucks, a free Mardi Gras guest registration and other smaller prizes,” Boyle said. “Our goal is to encourage students to continue to take action towards personal safety.”