Trinity College Personal Security & Protection

Our attempt is to persuade people to take their own safety and that of others very seriously. We also hope to assist you in becoming more conscious of your personal safety. Although we have experienced a few serious problems, the campus at Trinity College is relatively safe for an urban campus. This is a result not only of the efforts of our campus safety force, but also of our students becoming more security conscious and less inclined to take chances with their own safety. Learning how to be alert, to use common sense, to prevent unnecessary threats to one's safety and to that of others in the community is part of one's education.

Emergency numbers are listed below as well as on the back cover of the College Handbook. Keep these numbers handy; call them when there is need:

CAMPUS SAFETY	297-2222
HARTFORD POLICE	dial 9-911
HARTFORD FIRE	dial 9-911
HEALTH CENTER	297-2018
AMBULANCE	dial 9-911

Note: Three campus phones have a direct line to Mather Front Desk. They are located in the lobby of McCook Math-Physics Center, the far north end wall of the first floor of the Life Sciences Center, and in the basement of Seabury 22-29 on the wall directly opposite the stairway by the entrance.

There are precautions you can take to lessen your chances and those of others of becoming victims of crime. Remember the college campus is not immune. On the contrary it often attracts certain kinds of criminals especially those who, because of age and appearance are unobtrusive. Always keep your ID handy. If you are asked to identify yourself, please cooperate.

1. Be alert, observant and aware of any out-of-the-ordinary occurrence or of any unknown person. Avoid dark, vacant areas and dangerous short cuts (especially in areas that afford hiding places for a would be assailant). If you are being followed, head quickly for a lighted area or towards a group of people.

2. Never walk alone at night. Don't be embarrassed to ask another person to accompany you. If you must travel alone on campus after dark, please use the shuttle or request an escort. Should you use empty classrooms for study at night, don't study alone. If you use your office late at night, it is advisable to notify Campus Safety of your presence and to keep your door locked.

3. Be alert when you enter an elevator. It may be better to wait for an empty car than to get on with a stranger.

5. Keep your door locked at all times whether you are in the room or not. Never prop your door open. If you are leaving the room for even a few minutes, lock your door. Keep first floor windows locked when your room is not occupied. Do not let strangers into your room. Before you unlock your door, identify the caller. If unable to do so, ask the caller to slip an ID card under the door. While this may seem extreme, it is for your own protection.

6. If you remain on campus over holiday periods or when most students are away, room with another student. This process should be coordinated with the Office of Residential Life. Determine who else is staying on the same floor and arrange a mutual check system with them. Leave your name with the Mather Front Desk.

7. While driving in urban areas, keep all doors locked and windows rolled up. When you stop for traffic lights or at intersections, keep your car in gear. If threatened, blow your horn and drive away.

8. Do not hitchhike or pick up hitchhikers. Even in the company of another student this is a dangerous practice.

9. Use only your last name on mailboxes, doorplates, or your listing in the telephone directory. Of utmost importance in averting the possibility of physical assaults is not to run risks. This means avoiding dark and isolated areas in which assault is possible; maintaining a safe distance from suspicious persons; and not opening the door to your residence before positively identifying the caller.

It is difficult to know how best to respond in the face of a serious threat of violence. Confronted by such a threat, you must consider which of many possible responses seems most appropriate under the circumstances. Frequently a calm, passive, "cool" response puts off or disarms such a threat. If actually attacked, your response will also depend on the circumstances. In some cases, a passive response has prevented a bad situation from becoming worse; in others, a violent reaction to violence has frightened off the aggressor. If compelled to resist an attack, do the best you can with your hands, feet, and elbows, while screaming as loudly as possible to attract help.

It is not advisable to walk alone, either on or off the campus. Whenever possible, one should seek out another who is heading in the same direction; students walking in pairs are less likely to be approached by muggers or rapists. Trinity's Campus Safety Office provides a shuttle for students wishing to go from one point on campus to another during the hours of darkness. You are encouraged to use the shuttle. If you are uncomfortable walking on campus, request an escort from Campus Safety. An officer will be dispatched to escort you on campus. The College is unable to provide escorts off campus. The following are guidelines for using the escort service.

1. Those seeking an escort from a campus parking lot between 2am - sunrise should contact the Campus Safety Office to request that an officer meet them at the parking lot. You will be asked to give your name, make of car, and its license plate number. The Campus Safety Office will contact an officer and tell you approximately when that officer will be available. When you arrive at the parking lot, stay in the car and keep the doors locked until the officer arrives.

2. Escorts will only be provided to a man or woman traveling alone or to two women.

Summit St. south to New Britain Ave., New Britain Ave. east to Broad St., Broad St. from New Britain Ave. north to Allen Place, Allen Place west to Summit St.

Property theft is the most common type of reported crime at Trinity. In the past few years the incidence of theft has increased. The College does not take responsibility for the loss of personal property. Take the following precautions to decrease your chances of property loss:

1. Keep your doors locked at all times - Even if you leave for "just a minute." It takes only 20 seconds to burglarize a room, 6 seconds to rip off a locker.

2. Don't give out your room or building combination to anyone! This includes your fast food delivery person. These locks are for students' protection.

3. Identify callers before opening the door. Unpleasant incidents have occurred because students were careless in this respect. If you live in campus apartments, don't "buzz" callers in, go to the front door.

4. NEVER prop open dormitory doors or otherwise frustrate the lock system. If a door is propped open, close it. Report broken locks at once to Campus Safety or to Buildings and Grounds. If you encounter persons who are damaging locks or propping doors, report them to Campus Safety.

5. Don't leave valuables lying about in your room during term or during vacations. Valuable belongings carelessly left about invite thieves.

6. Record the make, model and serial number of all computers, typewriters, calculators, stereo equipment, television sets, radios and all other expensive items. Keep a description of other valuables, watches, rings, jewelry, etc. If you possess expensive items in the last category, it is best to leave them at home. The Campus Safety Office has "Operation Identification" forms and free pen engravers available to assist you. By investing a few minutes of your time, you will have a permanent record on file in Security.

7. Don't leave valuables in your car. If you must, put them in the trunk. Keep car doors locked and check your car daily to make sure it is all right. The Campus Safety Office has forms and stickers for motor vehicle and bicycle registrations.

8. Report suspicious persons and circumstances to Campus Safety immediately. Don't be afraid of being overcautious. If there is time, obtain good descriptions of such people and if a vehicle is used, jot down the license plate number, the make and color of the car.

9. Solicitors are never officially allowed in the dormitories or other college housing. For your own protection, do not permit someone who purports to be selling something into your room, and report such people immediately to Campus Safety.

10. Never leave purses or wallets lying around, especially when making a purchase on or off campus.

12. Check your parent's homeowner's insurance policy to ascertain whether you are covered while at school. College insurance does not cover your personal property. In the event that you should become victim of property loss, report it immediately to Campus Safety.

4. Keep flammable materials away from all heat sources. Do not use makeshift lampshades or put any materials on top of a lampshade

6. Electrical appliances should never be left unattended. They should be unplugged when you leave your room or retire for the night. Pull out the plug by the plug, not by the wire. Never use water to put out an electrical fire.

7. Do not leave open flame sources unattended. All open flames should be extinguished even if left alone for the shortest time

8. Do not clutter corridors and stairs; bicycles, chairs, desks, and storage are prohibited by law in all exit ways.

9. Do not store flammable liquids, gases or chemicals; this is only permitted in laboratories.

1. Do not try to put the fire out. Sound the alarm in the building then evacuate the building immediately

2. Call the Hartford Fire Department first and then Campus Safety. Give as much information as you can:

3. Attempt rescue efforts only if there is no immediate danger to yourself. If you live near a person whose mobility, sight, or hearing is impaired, give that person whatever help is needed to leave the building.

2. If there is smoke in the room, keep low to the floor, where air will be fresher. Put a towel, wet if possible, over your mouth and nose.

3. Before passing through any doors, feel the metal doorknob. If it is hot, do not open the door. Attempt to exit through a window.

4. Open the windows slightly from the top, if possible (to let out smoke and heat) and from the bottom (to let in fresh air). Hang something (pillowcase, sheet or shirt) to signal the Fire Department. DO NOT JUMP.

5. If you can open the door, first check to see that it is not hot to the touch. Then brace yourself against the door and open it slowly to make sure there is not flame or heavy smoke on the other side. If there is, close the door quickly.

7. Go to the nearest exit or stairs. DO NOT USE AN ELEVATOR. If the nearest exit is blocked by fire, heat or smoke, go to an alternate exit.

8. If all exits on the floor are blocked, go back to your room, close the door, open the windows as described, wave something out the window and shout for help.

9. After evacuating the building, stand clear. Allow firefighting equipment to maneuver.

10. Follow the directions of Campus Safety and the Fire Department to maximize effectiveness in fighting the fire.

11. There will be fire drills held at various times. All occupants of the residence halls must cooperate with the speedy and orderly evacuation of the building when the fire alarms sound.