Courtney Kuhlen

Erica Hummel, St. Louis sophomore, gets her hand printed with the help of her sorority sister, Kathryn Noyce. Pi Beta Phi’s new security system was installed Tuesday and Noyce was responsible for making sure everyone’s handprints were logged into the new system. “It feels very ‘Mission Impossible’-ish,” Hummel said.

Local break-ins have influenced sorority chapter officers at the University of Kansas to increase security at houses on campus.

Though last week’s break-in at Sigma Delta Tau wasn’t a factor in chapter changes, the new security measures aim to prevent similar situations.

A member of Sigma Delta Tau reported to Lawrence Police that a man was in the house about 4 a.m. The woman said he was possibly taking pictures of her while she slept last Thursday.

Pi Beta Phi installed a high-tech security system yesterday.

The Recognition Systems, Inc. “Hand Key II” was put in at the front and back door of the sorority house. The system, which has been on the market for six months, scans and analyzes palms. It cost about $10,000.

The system is simple to use: A member enters her specific code, places her hand on a scanner and the door unlocks after it analyzes certain areas of her hand.

“I think it’s good because anyone can get into a place that requires a code,” Natalie Adams, secretary of Pi Beta Phi, said. “I’m excited for the security system because it increases the safety of all the girls in the house.”

The new system replaced faulty finger-scanning equipment.

There were a few break-ins last year with the old system because the finger-scanner wouldn’t operate in cold weather.

The system was not strong enough to read the sorority members’ fingers when they were numb from the weather, Adams, Shawnee junior, said.

Kappa Kappa Gamma also has made some changes to prevent break-ins.

As of this semester, the chapter requires the use of an index-scanning door mechanism to enter the house. Keypads with a universal code are also used.

The changes were made to prevent the entry of unauthorized persons from entering the house. Non-members had gotten the code and entered the house at various times of the night.

Since the change, only one break-in has been reported, said Kelsey Walsh, Leawood sophomore and Kappa Kappa Gamma event chairwoman.

Other chapters aren’t so concerned with recent reported break-ins.

Parul Gor, president of Delta Delta Delta, said that the sorority has not had a problem with break-ins. The Olathe junior said that a guest speaker talked to the sorority about self defense and ways to protect oneself in the case of an emergency. The speaker offered pepper spray to each sorority member as a defense mechanism as well.

“I think a lot of girls learned from this and know now to be aware of their surroundings,” Gor said.

The Alpha Gamma Delta house, across campus, has keypads at only two of the five entrances. Keypads are present on interior doors as well, which limit access to bedrooms and showers, said Kim Nicholson, Leavenworth sophomore and activities coordinator.

“It’s been effective because we haven’t had burglaries,” she said.

Lawrence police are responsible for patrolling areas surrounding chapter houses, said Sgt. Robert Linzer, KU Public Safety Office.

The reported break in at Sigma Delta Tau is still under investigation, Capt. David Cobb, Lawrence Police Department, said. No similar break-ins have been reported.