Reports of illegal activity connected to prostitution in an academic building at Northeastern University have left students in search of answers as the school’s administration remains quiet.
The Huntington News, NU’s student newspaper, unveiled reports of “activity in relation to prostitution” inside the Mugar Life Sciences Building in an article published Oct. 23.
“I was shocked,” said Nadia Kurban, a second-year at NU. “I didn’t know something like this could happen, especially here.”
In response to the reports, NU installed “Husky Card locks” on Mugar’s bathroom doors, which can only be unlocked using NU identity cards, according to the Huntington News.
“That’s an insane reason for [the locks being there],” said Anna Bennett, a NU freshman.“It’s just bizarre.”
Aaron Jacobowitz, a second-year, said he “wasn’t really surprised” by the news, as “rumors” surrounding suspicious activity in the building had already been circulating.
“I didn’t know that it was prostitution,” said Jacobwitz. “I just thought people are hooking up in the bathroom.”
Throughout May and June, there were eight reported instances of either trespassing, suspicious activity or lewd and lascivious conduct in Mugar Hall, according to the Northeastern University Police Department’s crime logs.
There was one report of an individual loitering in the restroom and another of suspicious activity in the restroom.
NU has not released a statement addressing the issue and did not respond to a request for comment.
The new bathroom locks were first addressed in a faculty senate meeting on Sept. 25 by Veronica Godoy-Carter, an associate professor of biology and biochemistry at NU, who said the locks caused confusion and asked for the bathrooms to be opened during the day. According to the meeting minutes, Carter said she was eventually told the locks were put in place due to “safety concerns.”
The issue was brought up again Oct. 16 in another faculty senate meeting where Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs David Madigan said locks were added due to reports of illegal activity in the bathroom, according to the Huntington News. Madigan later clarified this illegal activity to be “in relation to prostitution.”
Andy Keiper, a third year at NU, said the university’s choice to not disclose the information to the student body “makes a lot of sense.”
“[Prostitution is] a sensitive topic that needs to be handled with care,” said Keiper. “They definitely should communicate with the student body, and I think they will if they haven’t.”
The incident has also left students with differing opinions on campus security.
Gab K De Jesus, a first-year graduate student at NU, described NU’s security system as “lax.”
“It doesn’t feel like there’s a need [for more security],” De Jesus said. “But then when there’s moments like this, it feels like the lock on the door feels more Band-aid solution.”
Others have grown more concerned about their safety on campus.
“Especially as a woman, it makes me even more scared,” Kurban said. “I do have to take precautions, even if it isn’t Northeastern students.”
