To remedy the rampant security concerns on MSU's campus, perhaps armored guards should be brought in to man residence halls. Dorms would surely be safer and visitors frightened.

But is this level of security necessary?

After a student was attacked Jan. 30 in Case Hall, a group was put together to study residence hall security. Recommendations released Wednesday from the recently formed group included remote electronic door sensors, extended night receptionist hours and card access readers.

While these suggestions aren't quite as drastic as 24-hour security guards, some are equally restrictive. Also, installing ID readers could cost an estimated $1.9 million.

Of all the ideas, door sensors make the most sense. Night receptionists have done a superb job of protecting the front doors of campus dorms, but they can't account for propped-open side doors. The sensors, which would alert dorm officials of open doors, can correct that.

However, extending already lengthy night receptionist hours and the astronomically costly idea to have card swipers at doors - borrowed straight from the overly restricted University of Michigan campus - would only rack up needless expenses to the university's struggling budget.

The parents of Jonathan Martone - the student attacked that prompted the group's assembly - got involved and want to make sure what happened to their son doesn't happen to another student. This was a practical reaction to a frightening situation and they should be commended.

Since Martone was held at knife point, no comparable occurrences have taken place. MSU is a safe campus and doling out cash to make an already secure campus more secure seems unnecessary, especially in the current budgetary climate.