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.
According to Cook, campus security makes routine checks in the Hut every few hours throughout the night.
"Campus security is very, very good with us," Cook said. "They keep a very close eye on the Hut."
It has been reported in the past that homeless individuals occasionally stay in the Hut because it is warm and open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Wetherson himself is not homeless. According to the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Web site, he was issued an open container citation in June 2007, though the charges were dismissed. This could potentially raise security concerns regarding the Hut, considering its easy accessibility and 24/7 operations. Student monitors are stationed during the day and are trained to report any strange persons or activity. Campus security does make regular checks at night, as stated by Cook. When a repeat trespasser such as Wetherson is apprehended, the Baltimore City Police will intervene.
"We get very infrequent calls to that location," said Ossmus of the Hut. Referring to Cook's job coordinating security for the library and the Hut, he said, "Whatever she's doing, she must be doing right."
Ossmus explained that a criminal citation is somewhat like a traffic ticket. The individual to whom one is issued must agree to appear in court and make a plea, a proceeding which will then appear on his or her criminal record. The court date for Wetherson's citation at the Hut has yet to be determined, and the Baltimore City Police Department was unable to be reached for comment by press time.
The Hut will be closing after the end of this semester with the renovation of Gilman Hall. When asked if there would be any new security measures in place in the newly renovated Hut, Ossmus said, "That's still in the planning process."
