Undergraduate Council members have renewed efforts to obtain 24-hour universal key card access in all undergraduate houses, but the attempt has been stonewalled by house masters.

Citing safety and convenience as principal concerns, council members met with house masters over the past few weeks to discuss extending hours.

But house masters, on whom the decision ultimately falls, opposed the measure, fearing access would compromise security.

Universal access to houses is currently limited to the hours between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.

"If you drop an ID card, then anyone who picks it up [could] have access to any one of the houses," said Leverett House Master John E. Dowling.

Dowling said access would amplify late night traffic in the house, increasing the chance for dangerous incidents.

But many house masters did approve of council plans for partial 24 hour access.

In this arrangement, all undergraduates will be able to access the front door or designated doors of many houses but will be denied access to individual entryways.

Students who feel threatened late at night will be able to find refuge in house lobbies or designated entryways but will not be able to access other entryways or hallways.

However, council members worry that students will not be able to find the designated entryway if they are in danger.

"You lapse into that problem of knowing what door it is," said council Vice President Mark A. Price '98. "When you're in danger and you swipe the card and get that red light, you're in a lot of trouble."

Lowell House Master William H. Bossert says a universal access plan is hard to devise because houses differ in entrance design.

"We were willing to go along [with front door access] because of the architectural features of Lowell House," Bossert said.

"We have three locked doors between a student's bed and the outside world. It's okay for us if we open one--we still have two left," he said. "But I think there are buildings where such a thing would be a danger."

Kirkland House, for example does not have a front door, and 24 hour access would let students directly into residential areas of the house.