Sequoia Hall has a secret that few school administrators are willing to tell.

The secret is a room recessed deep within the science building, on the third floor guarded by a security camera and a foreboding red placard splashed with the words: “Access to this area restricted.”

A set of locked double doors bars visitors from entering. A fluorescent light spills a ghostly glow across its threshold. People nearby know little of what lies beyond.

Many students have conflicting opinions of what’s hidden behind Room 321’s solid, unspeaking entrance.

“Animals infected with viruses,” exchange student Takeshi Kobayashi said. “Secret medical experiments.”

Others, such as Abby Trott, a junior, believe corporate interests are responsible.

“Animal testing. They’re probably testing chemicals out on animals’ eyes, like hairspray,” Trott said. “It’s definitely not pharmaceutical, because that’s really too much for Sac State.”

Junior Andrew Fernandez thought secret computer experiments were being conducted.

“I don’t know,” Earvin Jenkins, a computer science major, said. “Aliens maybe?”

The truth is far more realistic, according to Gary Dunham, Manager of Systems, Networks & Operations for University Computing & Communications Services.

“There’s more office space back there than anything else,” Dunham said. “It houses Information Management Resources, things like student records. It’s mainly the data we’re trying to protect.”

Dunham said people are kept out due to the sensitive nature of the information on the computers.

“There are students’ records, addresses. A lot of things you wouldn’t want thieves to get,” Dunham said. “In the olden days you had a bunch of steel frame IBMs. You didn’t have to worry about people stealing them because they were so heavy.”

The security camera outside derives its power from a simple source: a visible and unpluggable wall socket.

“If someone were to pull out that plug, we’d know immediately,” Dunham said. “There are four cameras in that vicinity and they’re constantly being monitored.”

The chances of students getting visitation passes to Sequoia Hall’s hidden garden of secrets are slim to none.

“He’s not going to let you in,” said Julie Chan, secretary of University Computing Director David Hill. “He’s not in either. I don’t know when he’ll be back.”

Although Hill was unavailable for comment, the truth about what’s housed within Sequoia’s west wing aches to be released.

“You ever call into Casper before?” Dunham asked. “Well, that’s where it’s housed. We shut access off to students after seven because the computers need to run routine maintenance.”