After the 11/11 scare, it got me thinking how hard of a time would someone have trying to sneak into Legacy, and cause havoc? I found out it is extremely easy.
I held an unoffical experiment over the course of two days at two different class periods. I put myself in the mind set of someone who would want to do harm to Legacy. I made a plan, and set out to achieve my goal.
I went to seven of the entrances that lead inside Legacy during last block. I proceeded to remove my ID, and put on a another school’s hoodie and covered my head. At each entrance I went to I would knock on the door attempting to get people to let me in. I was let in at each entrance every time. The people who let me in where Legacy students I did not know, or that I had never seen. I was in. Part one of my plan was complete.
The next day during second block I went to an entrance I had found was easiest to enter through. Wearing the same thing as the previous day I found I was still able to get someone to let me inside, but today I didn’t just want to get in Legacy I wanted to see if I could get around without getting caught.
I was let in the back right door again. I decided to start at the top floor, and work my way down. With my hood still up, and ID off I proceeded to walk around looking as suspicious as possible. The third floor I encountered no one except students. As I walked past the AP office I looked in and kept on my way. I moved down to the second floor. I walked around once again, this time running into someone. It was a teacher looking at the paperwork in her hand. She glanced up at me quickly then kept on looking at her paper work. She said nothing to me.
The first floor. I knew this would be my biggest challenge. I walked past three teachers, and countless students once again nothing was said to me. As I started toward the cafeteria I realized what was there. The Police office. I actually started to get nervous, but once again nothing was said.
I walked around Legacy, and no one said a word to me. No one asked who I was. No one told me to take my hood off. No one told me to put on my ID. So it was easy for me to sneak in and roam the school without an ID and looking as if I was from another school.
I’m not saying it’s the school’s fault – it’s the student’s fault as well. If a Legacy student just happens to be around a door when someone attempts to get in the school, he/she shouldn’t let them in if they don’t have an ID. It’s just a bad idea.
If teachers at Legacy freak out when students don’t have IDs on at their desk, then they should take the time to question shady people in the hall. After this experience all I can wonder is “Is Legacy safe?”
Kayla Stallings • Dec 26, 2010 at 2:51 am
I think you did a great investigation Travis. To be completely honest, though, I’m not all that shock that you could roam the halls without you’re ID or get other students to let you in. I myself have been let in and/or let others into the school. I agree that it’s unsafe, but if you’re coming from Ben Barber and like me you park on the side of the school it’s easier to just use the hall door instead of going all the away around to the front just to walk back around. Also the door situation wouldn’t be that big of a deal if people, teachers and students, paid more attention to the ID’s that we are required to wear. I myself have gone two whole class periods before realizing I’d forgotten to put on my ID. If we all said something when someone didn’t have an ID or notice that the person doesn’t have on one before letting them in. Although there are flaws in our system, I’m not scared. I find this to be a really great investigative article. Way to go Travis!!
Aaron St. John • Dec 16, 2010 at 12:43 pm
When i came back to the school to visit, i was let in countless times by kids i who i didnt even know, and was never asked to even show identification.
Kelly Harkrider • Dec 13, 2010 at 4:00 pm
This article is very interesting and informative! I’m sad to hear this was so easy to pull off, really. I came up to Legacy one day to bring pizza to the yearbook classroom just before school was over (I’m the mother of a student there) around 2:15. With pizza in hand, knocking on the door, a student saw me and wouldn’t let me in. Not even with pizza! She went and got Mr. Mallett, who explained to me that his kids knew better than to open the door for anyone. I was really happy about this, and glad to know Mallett teaches his kids to be safe. Maybe the other teachers should take a page out of his book and spread awareness!
Incidentally – great story, great investigating, well thought out and executed! Hope you got an A for this or some extra credit!
allex ohler • Dec 13, 2010 at 1:49 pm
I never let people in the school unless i see an ID, however this story is kind of scary. I can’t believe Travis was able to roam the halls without somebody, anybody stoping him. By the time he covered all the floors, bad things could have already have happened if it was a real intruder. I don’t think ID’s protect Legacy what so ever. There should be a more productive way to keep Legacys students/faculty safe.
alicia hanson • Dec 10, 2010 at 11:49 am
this article made me think alot. i never even thought about looking to see if the people i open the entrance doors for have IDs. If i see somone at the door i just let them in without thinking twice. but now that ive read this article it makes me want to be more cautious about who i let int our school.
Shelby • Dec 9, 2010 at 1:24 pm
This was awesome and like Kymber said, very eye opening. I never really thought of our school as careless but I guess there is always room to improve. Good job!
Kymber • Dec 3, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Wow.
This is really eye opening. Clearly there are safety precautions that need to be taken.
When I open the door for students, I sometimes wonder if people just let people in without even knowing that they go to our school…I always glance to see if there’s an I.D. so I know I’m not letting in an intruder.
The things that you describe could happen with any person that has a teenage-like body frame also. Adult intruders that look around a senior students age could easily get into the building and do whatever they wanted.