Biometric Technology Helps Keep Pair of Sororities Safe Campus Safety Journal * April 2004

As schools, colleges and universities seek to create the safestenvironment possible for students, many educational institutions areemploying what are called biometric technologies. Human bodycharacteristics such as fingerprints, eye retinas. voice patterns, facialpatterns and hand measurements can now be used for authenticationpurposes, and enable administrators to deal with extenuating situationsthat make security precautions more effective.
Bruce Winner, the school program manager for a comprehensiveelectronic security provider [Sonitrol] that is responsible for almost150,000 apprehensions since 1977, notes a number of benefits forbiometrics use on campuses.
"Biometrics allows unparalleled accuracy and reliability," saysWinner. "The technology can be integrated into existing systems, and thetransition is fast and easy. Administrators are also discovering the costbenefits of biometrics. There can be substantial savings over card-basedsystems as the technology has become substantially less expensive than inthe past."
Two sororities at the University of Central Florida, Orlando,recently installed biometric-based access control systems to preventnon-residents from coming into their houses after visitation hours.
Originally, a proximity reader with a magnetic lock was installed atthe front of the door to control access for the Alpha Delta Pi sorority atthe university. The door would open when an authorized user presented anelectronic key fob. However, sorority members were sharing electronic keysand sometimes providing them to non-sorority individuals. An additionaloutdoor access keypad was then installed so individuals would be requiredto enter a unique PIN code along with using the electronic key to gainentry. Sorority members also shared PIN numbers with unauthorized users,thus lessening the overall security level for the sorority.
Alternative methods of access control that would enhance securityand, at the same time, be easy to use were investigated. Tests of variousbiometric options available on the market were conducted. In recent years,biometrics has become less expensive and a very popular consideration foraccess control.

Finger vs. hand

It was determined that the most viable options for this applicationwere either fingerprint or "hand geometry" systems. The fingerprint optionwas not suitable for outdoor use and did not offer a usable enclosure. Thehand-geometry reader offered a weatherproof enclosure to ensure that thesorority houses would not experience downtime due to maintenance issuesand abuse.
After further testing, a hand-geometry reader replaced the proximityreader and keypad, and eliminated the need for electronic key technology.The hand-geometry technology offered redundant access to the sorority, aseach student is still required to enter a PIN code and present her hand inorder to gain entry. This eliminates the possibility of an unauthorizedindividual gaining access without the resident being present.
The installation took only a few hours, which included enrolling morethan 200 residents and staff into the system. Dorothea Bangert, Presidentof the Zeta Omega Chapter of the Alpha Delta Pi House Corp., immediatelysaw the benefits of the new system and the increased level of security itwould provide.
"User-friendly software enables housemothers to run reports and viewdaily entrance activity at their computers with the click of a mouse,"Winner says.
Kappa Delta, another UCF sorority, saw the benefits of thetechnology, and also updated its system to include the hand-geometryreader.
Although the residents knew they could no longer pass on theirelectronic keys for friends to gain entry to the sorority house, theyseemed very excited about the increased security protection that thehand-geometry technology provides. Users were a little nervous at firstabout placing their hands in the reader, but once they were told that itwas similar to "just taking a picture of their hand," the new technologywas accepted.

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About Campus Safety Journal (CSJ)

The mission for CSJ is to provide a vehicle for communicating campussafety and security issues to all interested parties at the middle,secondary, college and university levels. The Campus Safety Journal iscirculated free of charge to universities, colleges, high schools andschool districts throughout the U.S. Also, it is circulated outside ofNorth America on a paid subscription basis. Circulation closest to thisdate is 23,000. This is a monthly publication except bi-monthly in Julyand August. For more information, please visit CSJ's web site: www.campusjournal.com.

About Sonitrol:
Sonitrol Corporation is the leading provider of Verified Response security solutions for businesses and schools in North America. Founded by a policeman, the company's technology was created to reduce false alarms and increase apprehensions. Sonitrol's proprietary audio verification capability has assisted local law enforcement in the apprehension of more than 155,000 suspects since 1977. Its integrated suite of offerings includes audio intrusion alarms, access control, video surveillance and fire detection. For more information on Sonitrol and its integrated security solutions, please visit the company's website at www.sonitrol.com.