A regular police presence in the residence halls sparked debate at the first Inter-Residence Hall Association meeting of the year.

ISU Patrol Officer Elliot Slorer, the new police liaison for parts of the Richardson Court Association, explained the purpose and intent of the program in the residence halls to IRHA Thursday.

Under the new police liaison program, which was implemented this fall, each hall has an ISU police officer whose job is to walk rounds for as little as 10 or 15 minutes a week, or, in some situations, 10 minutes a day. Officers could also request floor meeting dates and times from hall directors so each hall’s liaison could get to know residents better, he said.

The program was implemented by the Department of Residence with no input from IRHA or students who live in the residence halls.

IRHA President Drew Larson expressed personal privacy concerns in the residence halls in relation to the police liaison program. Having a police officer in his home made him uncomfortable, he said.

“I appreciate what [the program] is trying to do, but I see it as a privacy issue,” he said. “These are not just our rooms, these are our homes. What would you say to people who were uncomfortable with having police in their homes?”

Slorer said the ISU Police liaisons will try to build and foster relationships with students in the residence halls to make themselves more known and approachable. He said that police were in the residence halls while students were moving in and did their best to meet both students and parents.

“We’re not knocking down doors; we’re not seeing if your door’s unlocked so we can walk in. … We’re trying to be more approachable so if something does happen you can say, ‘Hey, I know Elliot, I’m going to call Elliot, something is happening that I’m uncomfortable with,'” Slorer said. “A lot of people don’t have a positive interaction with the police department — our goal is to change that.”

Slorer said the police are not in the residence halls with the intent to arrest, but would follow proper procedures when necessary.

“If I arrest somebody for PAULA — possession of alcohol under the legal age — I could stop that person from being sexually assaulted, being a victim of another crime or sexually assaulting another person,” Slorer said.