Campustown apartments limit visitors with wristbands, increase security

Sean+White%2C+a+senior+in+management+systems+information%2C+gets+his+wristband+checked+as+he+enters+Cyclone+apartment+building+on+April+9.+Campustown+property+management+is+requiring+wristbands+to+access+all+of+their+buildings+from+April+9+through+13.

Noah Cary/Iowa State Daily

Sean White, a senior in management systems information, gets his wristband checked as he enters Cyclone apartment building on April 9. Campustown property management is requiring wristbands to access all of their buildings from April 9 through 13.

Colby Siebersma

Due to the influx of visitors during what was scheduled to be the week of Veishea, Campustown apartments increase security and limit the amount of visitors that each resident can bring into the building.

From April 9 through the weekend, each resident of Campustown apartments is allotted three wristbands to give to their guests. Only individuals with wristbands are allowed into the apartments.

This is the second year this policy will be enforced.

“The purpose of the wristband policy is to increase safety for our residents, our resident’s property and the property of Campustown,” said Melissa Pierce, general manager of Campustown Property Management.

By limiting the amount of guests in Campustown buildings, it is easier to monitor the property and hopefully prevent any potentially dangerous situations from occurring, Pierce said.

Pierce also said they hope this policy prevents large, out of control gatherings in Campustown properties.

Campustown will be working closely with Haven Protection and the Ames Police Department to enforce this policy.

There will be security patrolling the grounds around properties, the interior corridors, and guards at each door checking for wristbands, Pierce said.

As far as resident feedback, Pierce said she believes most students appreciate the wristband policy.

“I think they are happy about this policy because it protects our residents, their personal property and prevents an overload of people from entering buildings,” Pierce said.

Carly Pastwa, sophomore in child, adult and family services, is a Campustown resident.

“Overall, I think the wristband policy does help to maintain order in the building,” Pastwa said.

Pastwa also said that sometimes the policy is very inconvenient, though. She said that only being allowed three guests per resident is very restricting.

Daniel Bausman, sophomore in pre-business, also said that he wishes they could be allowed more wristbands.

“It would be nice to hang out with more than three friends each, but we are only allowed three guest wristbands,” Bausman said.

Each guest wristband has a number on it that is linked to the resident of Campustown apartments. In the event that a guest gets in trouble, he or she can be linked back to a specific resident.

Regardless of the restrictions, this policy is meant to ensure safety, and Pastwa said it does a good job of that.

“Veishea has a history of being pretty wild, so the amount of security around does help me feel safer. Sometimes having security guards at every door feels like a little too much, though,” Pastwa said.

Although this policy makes things a little different, the main goal of it is to make sure that all Campustown residents and their guests will have a safe week, Pierce said.

Pierce said she does not foresee any problems with unregistered guests entering the building because of the amount of security that will be on scene.

“If such an event does occur, our security team will promptly address the situation and escort the unregistered guest off the property,” Pierce said.

Even though this policy can be inconvenient for residents, Bausman said he and other residents understand that the order needs to be maintained, and will try to be as corporative as possible.