By Desmond Bernal
Stonehill College is no longer allowing people from the public on campus due to the pandemic to keep its students, faculty, and staff safe.
The College released a statement on July 29 explaining the reasons for the College closing its campus to the public.
“Throughout our history, Stonehill has welcomed with open arms alumni, visitors, and neighbors who come to enjoy our campus as a peaceful place to walk, bike, picnic, or pray - like so much in recent months, the pandemic is forcing us to temporarily make significant changes in order to protect the health and safety of all in our community to the best of our ability.”
Since the College is moving from an open to a closed campus, it is no longer allowing any joggers, walkers, or people to use certain facilities, at this time Stonehill College Police Chief, David Wordell said.
There are two exceptions at this time: the Chapel and the Grotto.
Wordell said college officials felt visitors should still be able to visit these two areas. If visitors want to come to visit these areas they must speak with the attendant at the Gatehouse located on Route 123 and Belmont Street.
Vendors must also fill out a campus authorization form before being allowed on campus.
For added safety, the College installed two gates at both entrances of the campus, on Route 123/Belmont Street and Route 138/Washington Street.
“With COVID-19 we really wanted to look at ways to keep everyone safe and the gates were one step in that direction,” Wordell said.
Many colleges have gates at entrances to control who comes on campus.
“In order to prevent outside guests and the public from entering our campus we just had a way of shutting down the entrances without them always being manned by some kind of gatehouse attendant,” Associate Vice President for Finance and Operations, Craig Binney said.
Every vehicle on the campus used by students, faculty, and staff must be registered through Campus Police. Each registered vehicle receives a parking pass and a window tag.
Off-campus groups such as then Easton Police and Fire Departments, and members of the Holy Cross Congregation have received special window tags.
The window tag is a sensor that opens the gates.
“At each entrance, there is a sensor, on 138 entrance it is on the right-hand side and on the 123 entrance it is on the left-hand side - what that does is it sends out a pulse to sense the fobs on each vehicle,” Director of Facilities, Bruce Boyer said.
An area that raises a point of concern is the ability for people to get on campus from the Holy Cross Center or “The Sem” parking lot.
Campus Police regularly patrol this area to make sure the vehicles in the parking spots are vehicles that belong there, Wordell said.
He said Campus Police have only had one incident so far from students coming in and trespassing this way.
He said the closure of the College to the public is considered a temporary measure during the pandemic.
Comments