Spring Break
Hopkins non-affiliate cited for trespassing
Issue date: 2/21/08
A non-affiliate of the University was issued a criminal citation for trespassing in the Hutzler Reading Room of Gilman Hall on Feb. 13 and was escorted off campus by Baltimore City Police.
Jeffrey Wetherson, 46, had been issued a warning for trespassing on Feb. 7 when a monitor identified him as a non-affiliate and called campus security. His older appearance provoked suspicion, as non-Hopkins affiliates are not permitted in the Hut. Student monitors routinely call for assistance from campus security if they identify individuals who do not appear to belong on the premises.
"Obviously, he didn't look like an undergraduate, and that's what prompted the call," said Steve Ossmus, lieutenant of investigations for campus security.
"They know when somebody should or shouldn't be there," said Bettie Cook, an administrative supervisor who works closely with security on behalf of the MSE Library and the Hut.
According to Cook, because the Hopkins library receives Title-III funding from the U.S. Department of Education, it is required to allow access to any and all individuals who can produce photo identification. Therefore, the main library on the Homewood campus is open not only to students with J-cards, but any adult who can produce a driver's license or a similar form of ID.
The 24-hour-a-day Hutzler Undergraduate Reading Room in Gilman, however, maintains a different policy. As its name implies, the Hut was originally designated for use by undergraduate students of Hopkins only. Generally speaking, anyone who can produce Hopkins identification is permitted to use the facilities, including graduate students.
Thus, the Hut is "strictly for affiliate people," Ossmus said. If someone such as Wetherman appears "out of place," they are considered a trespasser and are issued warnings by campus security.
At 3:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13, "Our officers observed him in there, knowing he'd already received a trespass warning, and that's why the police department was called," Ossmus said.
Jeffrey Wetherson, 46, had been issued a warning for trespassing on Feb. 7 when a monitor identified him as a non-affiliate and called campus security. His older appearance provoked suspicion, as non-Hopkins affiliates are not permitted in the Hut. Student monitors routinely call for assistance from campus security if they identify individuals who do not appear to belong on the premises.
"Obviously, he didn't look like an undergraduate, and that's what prompted the call," said Steve Ossmus, lieutenant of investigations for campus security.
"They know when somebody should or shouldn't be there," said Bettie Cook, an administrative supervisor who works closely with security on behalf of the MSE Library and the Hut.
According to Cook, because the Hopkins library receives Title-III funding from the U.S. Department of Education, it is required to allow access to any and all individuals who can produce photo identification. Therefore, the main library on the Homewood campus is open not only to students with J-cards, but any adult who can produce a driver's license or a similar form of ID.
The 24-hour-a-day Hutzler Undergraduate Reading Room in Gilman, however, maintains a different policy. As its name implies, the Hut was originally designated for use by undergraduate students of Hopkins only. Generally speaking, anyone who can produce Hopkins identification is permitted to use the facilities, including graduate students.
Thus, the Hut is "strictly for affiliate people," Ossmus said. If someone such as Wetherman appears "out of place," they are considered a trespasser and are issued warnings by campus security.
At 3:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13, "Our officers observed him in there, knowing he'd already received a trespass warning, and that's why the police department was called," Ossmus said.
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