"I see the danger of relying too heavily on the card key information, but again, it's a tradeoff for increased security," Cho says. "I don't want to seem like it doesn't disturb me at all because in an abstract sense, it does seem quite Big Brotherish. But in a practical sense, it's just another measure that's taken to protect us."

Robert W. Yalen '95, assistant director for student affairs at the Civil Liberties Union of Harvard (CLUH), says he is concerned that the University does not have set rules governing the use of the information.

Last November, CLUH submitted a proposal to Jewett asking the University to set a specific card key policy.

The proposal asks the University not to release the card key information to "any individual, agency or organization, on or off campus, except in cases where required by law or the student gives his or her approval."

The CLUH proposal requests that students be notified when information about themselves is released and told to whom it was released. Additionally, CLUH would like to see students given the right to access information about themselves on demand.

Although no official discussions will take place until February, Jewett says he endorses these proposals.

The main point of contention between CLUH and Jewett is whether the Administrative Board should be given access to the information. Jewett says the information may be used in the future.

But Yalen and CLUH maintain that the Ad Board should not use the information in disciplinary hearings because of its circumstantial nature.

Yalen says the records acquired through electronic access control should be restricted to the College because the information can inaccurately incriminate a student.

The information cannot determine how long students stay in the building because the system does not record when students exit the dorms. Students also open doors for each other, and the information may be recorded from borrowed, lost or misplaced keys, says Yalen.

"The Ad Board should not be able to access the card key information because the information is very prejudicial and circumstantial," Yalen says.

Under law, government agencies can access card key information through a subpoena. Although no law restricts the College from accessing card key information, CLUH is asking the College to voluntarily refrain from using it.

"We make allowances in our report for any legal requirements. We are just talking within the College," Yalen says.

But Jewett says the information may be used to corroborate evidence. Students' concerns are overblown because Ad Board officials realize the limited nature of the card key information, Jewett says.

"I think everyone recognizes the limited validity of the data," he says.