The Department of Campus Safety 2002 Annual Report

Table of Contents

     The Department of Campus Safety
          Safety and Security at Trinity College

     Mission and Vision Statement
           Read about our Mission, Vision, and Values

     Reporting Crimes or Emergencies
          How to get in touch with Campus Safety
          Important phones numbers
          Emergency call boxes
          Emergency Call Box Locations

     Uniform Campus Crime Report
          View campus crime statistics

     Annual Crime Statistics
          Trinity three year disclosure of crimes
          Hartford Police Department three year disclosure of crimes
   
     crime definitions and codes from the
     uniform crime reporting handbook
          Definitions and explanations of common crimes

     sex offense definitions and codes from the
     uniform crime reporting handbook
          Definitions and explanations of Sexual Offenses

     Crime Awareness and Prevention Programs
          Learn how to prevent crime

     Identity Theft
          Learn how to protect yourself against Identity Theft

     Computing and Network Guidelines
          Computing and Network Ethics 
          User Responsibilities 
          Codes of Conduct
          Software, Music, and other Media Files
  
     Understanding Hate Crimes
          Find out the differences and how to report a hate crime

     Sexual Assault and Harassment Policies
          Find out how to report a sexual assault, and learn about Trinity's
          sexual assault awareness, education and resources for victims
          Reporting a Sexual Assault and the Institution’s Response
          Sexual Assault Awareness and Education
          Resources for Victims of Sexual Assault

     Residential Security
          Residential Security

     Buildings and Grounds Security
          Buildings and Grounds Security

     Possession of Use of Alcohol and Controlled
     Substances
          Information regarding the possession and use of alcohol and
          controlled substances

The Department of Campus Safety

Trinity's Department of Campus Safety coordinates the College's efforts to provide a safe and well-ordered campus. Campus Safety Officers, dispatchers and administrative personnel staff this service-oriented department; their work is supplemented by security personnel at the Ferris Athletic Center. Campus Safety Officers have received formal security or police training, and are also trained in first aid and CPR. They have no formal arrest powers and may carry only defensive equipment, including handcuffs and a pepper-based spray. However, the Campus Safety Department has a close working relationship with the Hartford Police Department and calls for assistance whenever necessary.  A police sub-station, with round the clock staffing, is located two blocks from campus.

The Campus Safety Department also coordinates shuttle and escort services when school is in session. The shuttle service operates on a scheduled campus route and within designated off-campus areas between dusk and 2:00 a.m. on weeknights, and until 3:00 a.m. on weekend nights. Campus Safety Officers provide security escorts during hours of darkness when the shuttle service is not available. Shuttle drivers are equipped with radios and have direct communication with the Campus Safety office.

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Mission and Vision Statement

Mission Statement

The mission of the Campus Safety Department is to provide effectively a safe, secure environment where members of the Trinity community live, study, and work. Campus Safety, through its efforts to solve problems that impact the community’s safety, also seeks to bridge the gaps and establish harmonious relations between the campus and our neighbors.

Vision Statement

The Campus Safety Department is committed to providing professional protection services to our college community. These services will be characterized by fairness, compassion, respect, and inclusiveness, and a commitment to protect the dignity of every person with whom we come in contact.

The Department will be known for its community service orientation and will strive to prevent crime through community involvement. Our efforts will foster a safe living, learning and working environment supportive of the College's goal to foster educational excellence.

We will strive for professionalism and integrity by maintaining high ethical and performance standards. We will encourage technological advances, training, and professional skill development to enhance our effectiveness, to generate respect and to provide the maximum safety for our staff. 

Our Values:

• Respect: We believe in treating others as we would like to be treated, honoring individual dignity, and acknowledging and accepting community diversity.
    
• Integrity: We subscribe to the highest moral and ethical standards of conduct. By being responsible and accountable for our actions we will insure that our behavior builds credibility and respect.
    
• Trust: We believe that in order to provide effective service we must develop and maintain an atmosphere of mutual trust with our community.
    
• Dedication: We believe in committing to our goal of providing a safe living, working, and learning environment to the community of Trinity College.
   
• Professionalism: We believe in delivering a level of service that will reflect the pride that we have in our department and our community.
   
• Education: We believe in educating our students, faculty, and staff about how to take responsibility for their own safety.

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Reporting Crimes or Emergencies

Important Phone Numbers

The Campus Safety Department, located in the basement of 76 Vernon Street, is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. From College telephones, including those in the residence halls, the number for both emergency and non-emergency calls is extension 2222. Outside callers must dial 297-2222. Information regarding shuttle and escort services is available by calling extension 3333, or 297-3333 from non-College telephones. Activating any of the 55 yellow emergency call boxes located across campus also makes emergency contact with the Campus Safety Department.

A dispatcher who has radio contact with the Campus Safety Officers receives all calls. The dispatcher is trained to take action appropriate to the circumstances, including sending Campus Safety Officers or other emergency personnel to the location of the complaint or incident.

The 9-1-1 emergency system is also available, but must be preceded by a "9" when dialed from a College phone. Calling 9-1-1 will connect the caller with the Hartford emergency services dispatcher, not the Campus Safety Department. For police non-emergencies, callers are given the Hartford Police's 527-6300 non-emergency number.

All incidents reported to Campus Safety, including those that occur at off-campus locations occupied by recognized student organizations, are documented and recorded in accordance with state and federal requirements. Campus Safety encourages all complainants to report crimes perpetrated against them to the Hartford Police and/or any other appropriate city, state, or federal law enforcement agency. The College coordinates its disclosure and reporting of crime statistics with the Hartford Police Department.

Emergency Call Boxes

Emergency call boxes are located at numerous areas throughout the campus and may be activated by pushing a button. The activated call box will automatically identify the location to the Campus Police and a blue light on top of the call station will flash, indicating an activated alarm. The caller should give the necessary emergency information to the officer and, if possible, remain at the call box until an officer arrives.

Emergency Call Box Locations

Uniform Campus Crime Report

The following information, which covers the 2000, 2001, and 2002 calendar years, conforms in significant part with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting system and is provided in accordance with Connecticut General Statues 10a-55a and United States Public Law 101-542, the "Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990." In 2002, the last calendar year for which complete statistics are available, Trinity College had 753 full-time equivalent employees and 2,053 full-time equivalent students. There were 1,914 students and employees residing in College housing during the year. The table follows guidelines for reporting crimes. The incidents recorded took place on property owned or under the control of the College, or off- campus properties, and in the immediate area surrounding the campus.

See also: Reporting Sexual Assault

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Annual Crime Statistics

The purpose of publishing the Annual Statistics is to educate students, staff, and faculty of the crime risks both on and off the campus.  Most of the incidents with which we are regularly confronted can be classified as crimes of opportunity.  These cases remind us that it is important to secure our personal property and to remain vigilant to our own personal safety. 

This report also includes information about substance abuse on campus.  The abuse of alcohol and illegal drugs plagues colleges and universities across the nation, and Trinity is no exception.  Yet, most Trinity students do not abuse substances and they overwhelmingly reject living in an environment disturbed by those who do.  In accordance with federal and state law and consistent with Trinity's serious academic mission, Trinity strictly enforces the law; this proactive and aggressive stance is reflected in the number of offenses recorded on the next page. 

Please see the charts on the next page for our annual statistics.

Trinity College Three-Year Disclosure of Crimes Reported to Campus Safety and Other Administrative Entities on Campus

Note:

• Campus – Includes all academic, administrative and athletic buildings on the main campus and all outdoor common areas on Trinity College property.

• Non-Campus – Includes all Trinity College buildings not on the main campus including fraternities, sororities and all other properties of registered student organizations.

• Residence Halls – Buildings on campus where students live.

1. Denotes incident occurring at Collage rental property
     

2. One report of a weapon turned out to be a toy gun.  The second report was of a knife used in a robbery.
       

3. Two of the reported motor vehicles were golf carts
    

4. Four students overdosed from a mixture of drugs and alcohol that resulted in the death of one student.

Hartford Police Department THREE-YEAR Disclosure of Crimes on Public Property Around Trinity College

Note:

• Public Property – Streets and associated sidewalks around the campus.

1. A body was found a building near the campus by Hartford Police.  This incident was unrelated to the College.

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Crime Definitions and Codes from the Uniform Crime Reporting Handbook

• Aggravated Assault: an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. This type of assault is accompanied by the use of a weapon or by means likely to produce death or great bodily harm. It is not necessary that injury result from an aggravated assault when a gun, knife or other weapon is used that could or probably would result in a serious potential injury if the crime were successfully completed. UCR code 13A
   

• Arson: The willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn, with or without intent to defraud, a dwelling house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, or personal property of another kind. UCR code 20O
   

• Burglary: The unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or a theft. For reporting purposes this definition includes: unlawful entry with intent to commit a larceny or a felony, breaking and entering with intent to commit a larceny; housebreaking, safecracking, and all attempts to commit any of the aforementioned. UCR code 220
   

• Drug Abuse Violations: Violations of state and local laws relating to the unlawful possession, sale, use, growing, manufacturing and making of narcotic drugs. The relevant substances include: opium or cocaine and their derivatives, e.g. (morphine, heroin, codeine), marijuana, synthetic narcotics, e.g. (Demerol, methadone), and dangerous non-narcotic drugs, e.g. (barbiturates, Benzedrine). UCR code 35A
   

• Hate Crime: A hate crime is a criminal offense committed against persons, property or society that is motivated, in whole or in part, by an offender’s bias against an individual or a group’s perceived race, religion, ethnic/national origin, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation. (See “Understanding Hate Crimes” for distinction between hate crimes and hate incidents on page 12.)
   

• Larceny (Theft): The unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another person. UCR code 23A-23H. These statistics are not required by law.
   

• Manslaughter (Non-negligent): The willful (non-negligent) killing of one human being by another. UCR code 09A
   

• Manslaughter (Negligent): The killing of another person through gross negligence. UCR code 09B
   

• Motor Vehicle Theft: The theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle. (Classified as motor vehicle theft are all cases where automobiles are taken by persons not having lawful access, even though the vehicles are later abandoned – including joy riding.) UCR code 24O
   

• Robbery: The taking or attempting to take anything from value of care, custody or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence and/or putting the victim in fear. UCR code 120
   

• Liquor Law Violations: The violation of laws or ordinances prohibiting the manufacture, sale, transporting, furnishing, possessing of intoxicating liquor; maintaining unlawful drinking places, bootlegging, operating a still, furnishing liquor to minor or intemperate person, using a vehicle for illegal transportation of liquor, drinking on a train or public conveyance, all attempts to commit any of the aforementioned. (Drunkenness and driving under the influence are not included in this definition.) UCR code 90G
   

• Weapon Law Violations: The violation of laws or ordinance dealing with weapon offenses, regulatory in nature, such as: manufacture, sale, or possession of deadly weapons; carrying deadly weapons, concealed or openly; furnishing deadly weapon to minors; aliens possessing deadly weapons; all attempts to commit any of the aforementioned. UCR code 52O

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Sex Offense Definitions and Codes from the National Incident-Based Reporting System Edition of the Uniform Crime Reporting Program

1. Sex Offenses – Forcible: Any sexual act directed against another person, forcibly and/or against that person’s will, or not forcibly or against the person’s will where the victim is incapable of giving consent.
    

2. Forcible Rape (UCR code 11A) The carnal knowledge of a person, forcible and/or against the person’s will, or not forcibly or against that person’s will where the victim is incapable of giving consent because or his/her temporary or permanent or physical incapacity (or because of his/her youth).
    

3. Forcible Sodomy (UCR code 11B) Oral or anal intercourse with another person, forcibly and/or against that person’s will; or not forcibly against the person’s will where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her youth or because of his/her temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity.
    

4. Sexual Assault with an Object (UCR code 11C) The use of an object or instrument to unlawfully penetrate, however slightly, the genital or anal opening of the body of another person, forcibly and /or against that person’s will, or not forcibly or against the person’s will where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity.
    

5. Forcible Fondling (UCR code 11D) The touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, forcibly and/or against that person’s will, or, not forcibly or against the person’s will where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her youth or because of his/her temporary or permanent mental incapacity.
    

• Sex Offenses – Non-forcible:  Unlawful, non-forcible sexual intercourse.

1. Incest (UCR code 36A) Non-forcible sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law.
    

2. Statutory Rape (UCR code 36B) Non-forcible sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent.
    

Crime Awareness and Prevention Programs

The Department of Campus Safety is dedicated to educating the Trinity community about safety and security issues. "Safety and Security Precautions and Regulations" are published annually in the Trinity College Student Handbook. Several Campus Safety Information bulletin boards are located throughout the campus to disseminate pertinent information concerning safety and security. The Campus Safety department also works with other departments and groups to sponsor activities such as Sexual Assault Awareness Week that are aimed at promoting a safe campus environment.

The Department of Campus Safety may publish "Security Alerts" following incidents that represent a threat to the safety of students and employees.  The Alerts may be posted on bulletin boards or may be distributed electronically or by phone.

"Campus Safety Advisories" are distributed to inform the College community of the known facts of an incident about which there may be rumors circulating, or to publicize patterns of criminal activity in order to assist members of the Trinity community in preventing further losses. Campus Safety Advisories are distributed in the same manner as Security Alerts.

Policy Concerning Weapons on Campus

College regulations prohibit the unauthorized use or possession of weapons such as firearms, air rifles, ammunition, explosives, hand weapons, and fireworks of all kinds by any member of the Trinity community, both on campus and at functions or events off campus, which are governed by College regulations. The full regulation concerning weapons is published in the Trinity College Student Handbook.

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Identity Theft

What is identity theft?

Identity theft is one of the most devastating scams a consumer/student can fall victim to. Because of the nature of this crime victims do not realize their identity has been stolen until they are denied credit, turned down for a job or sent a bill for goods that they did not purchase. By that time, the consumer’s good name and credit history may be ruined. Rebuilding good credit in the aftermath of identity theft can take months or even years.

Identity theft can be defined as:

• When an individual appropriates another’s name, address, SS# and other identifying information to commit fraud.
   

• Identity thieves may use the information of another to open new credit card accounts, take out loans in the victim’s name, and steal funds from existing bank or investment accounts.
   

• Identity thieves may use stolen information to obtain fraudulent drivers licenses, illegally obtaining professional licenses, fraudulent birth and baptismal certificates and any other personal information of the victim to advance criminal activity.
   

• Identity thieves often have lenders send bills to other addresses concealing their fraud from the victim for great periods of time. When victims are finally made aware that their identity has been stolen, there are often huge monetary losses.

Identity theft can occur on college campuses and there are documented cases of identity and credit card theft on many college campuses.

If any student discovers that he/she is the victim of identity theft, the Hartford Police should be immediately called for documentation and the beginning of a criminal investigation. Multiple cases of identity theft are investigated by the United States Secret Service.

Identity theft cases can run from small cases involving one suspect to organized crime groups involved in massive amounts of fraudulent activity.

How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
 

• If you receive an offer for a pre-approved credit card or loan but are not interested, tear up or shred the application form before throwing it away. Also shred any old bank and credit card statements, canceled checks or other financial documents. Identity thieves have been known to go through trash for this information.

• If your bank or credit card statements do not arrive in time call the issuer to make sure that they are being sent to the proper address. Identity thieves have been known to steal this information to hide illegal credit activity.

• Periodically check your credit reports and review monthly bank and credit statements.

• If you receive a credit card in the mail that you did not request call the issuer and find out why it was sent to you. Cancel this card immediately.

• When creating a password for an ATM card, do not use long distance accounts or any other form of credit; avoid using common numbers such as your birth date or last four numbers of your SS#. Avoid using names such as your mother’s maiden name or any other information likely to appear in public records.

If you are a victim of identity theft, you may get a call from someone posing as a bank representative or a law enforcement officer. The caller will say that he/she wants to check your information such as address, social security #, birth date, etc. in an effort to clear your name. Never give this information over the telephone. A legitimate bank official or law enforcement officer will see you in person and show the proper credentials when conducting an investigation to assist any victim in identity theft cases.

Contact numbers:     Hartford Police         860-527-6300

                             U.S. Secret Service   203-865-2449

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Computing and Network Guidelines

Computing and Network Ethics

People on an ever-growing networked college campus are concerned about the possibility of becoming a victim of a cyber crime or cyber stalking.  Trinity is no exception. Trinity College's voice, data and video communication networks are for the use of Trinity College students, faculty, and staff, and are to be used only for the academic, educational and research purposes of the College.

Accounts given to you for accessing the network, e-mail, the Web, the Library, and other shared systems are provided expressly for your personal use only, and are not to be used by anyone else, including family members.

Giving access to your account to anyone off campus may result in permanent suspension of your access privileges.

User Responsibilities

Exercise caution in letting others use your computer.  The owner of the computer will be held responsible for any inappropriate use of the computer along with whoever committed the offence.

Codes of Conduct

Computer and network use on campus is guided by the same principles and the same disciplinary actions as set forth in the Student Handbook and also have legal ramifications as related to state and federal laws.

• Gaining access to someone’s account is the same as breaking into a room or office.

• Looking at files on a private directory is the same as going through someone’s desk – it is a violation of privacy.

• Writing a program is like writing an essay and the same rules of intellectual honesty apply.

• Unauthorized modification of a hard drive or program is the same vandalism.

• Making unlicensed copies of copyrighted software is theft and is a federal crime.

• Sending lewd or intimidating e-mail is harassment.

Software, Music, and other Media Files

Making copies of software that was not purchased or making copies of downloaded software from the Internet is a federal crime.  This rule also applies to other media such as MP3’s, CD’s, DVD’s, and games.  The Recording Industry Association and other related groups have been known to take legal actions against students to preserve copyrights on their properties.

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Understanding Hate Crimes

A hate crime is a criminal offense committed against persons, property or society that is motivated, in whole or in part, by an offender’s bias against an individual’s or a group’s perceived race, religion, ethnic origin, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation. They become crimes only when they directly incite a person or group to commit violence against persons or property, or if they place a potential victim in reasonable fear of physical injury.

Hate incidents involve behaviors that, though motivated by bias against a victim’s race, religion, ethic origin, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation, are not criminal acts. One example of this would be hostile or hateful speech that does not incite violence, or place the victim in reasonable fear for injury. Hate incidents, while discouraged at Trinity, are not illegal.

Campus Safety thoroughly documents evidence in all incidents, and can help defuse potentially dangerous situations. Campus Safety will do all it can to help prevent bias-motivated criminal behavior by responding to and documenting all bias-motivated actions even if they do not rise to the level of a criminal offense. Campus Safety also collaborates with the Hartford Police Department to assess patterns of hate crimes and determine if organized hate groups are involved. Please call Campus Safety at extension 2222 to report any incidents.

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Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Policies

Sexual assault is a violent crime that can happen to a woman or a man and can be committed by persons both known and unknown to the victim. However, a sexual assault committed by someone with whom the victim is acquainted is no less a crime than one perpetrated by a stranger, and the College's condemnation of such an act will be manifest in the severest of disciplinary sanctions if the perpetrator is a member of the College community. These sanctions will be imposed in addition to any criminal action pursued by the victim, and may include any or all of those listed under "Penalties" in the College Regulations section of the Trinity College Student Handbook.

Harassment is conduct that the College considers contrary to its mission as an educational institution in which tolerance and respect are central. Harassment includes physical behavior, such as assaults or stalking, as well as verbal conduct, such as threats to individuals. Under both College policy and State and Federal law, it is prohibited for members of the College community to engage in physical or verbal acts that have the purpose or effect of denying students the right to equal access to education on the basis of race, ethnic or national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, color or disability.

Sexual harassment, as a recognized form of sex discrimination under Title VII and Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, is prohibited at Trinity College. The sexual harassment of students by other students, faculty or non-faculty employees will not be tolerated and violators will find themselves subject to institutional sanctions.

Students are responsible for following all College regulations and rules, including College policies prohibiting sexual harassment and sexual misconduct.

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Reporting a Sexual Assault and the Institution's Response

The College recognizes that confidentiality in cases of sexual assault, especially those committed by an acquaintance, is extremely important to the victim, and this confidentiality will be maintained at all costs. Victims are encouraged to report sexual assaults to both Campus Safety and the Hartford Police Department. Campus Safety officials will facilitate contact with the Hartford Police Department at the victim's request.

Persons who are uncertain of what to do following a sexual assault should contact the Dean of Students' Office, the Director of the Women's Center, the Health Center or an administrator in the Campus Safety department. At night and during the weekend, persons seeking guidance following a sexual assault may call X2222 and ask for the Administrator-On-Call. The contacted administrator is trained in responding to crisis and will review with the victim his or her options, including reporting the incident to the police, making an informal or formal complaint to College authorities, the advisability of seeking medical attention, and available counseling resources. 

If possible, the victim should write down a description of the attacker (if his or her identity is unknown or uncertain), the location of the attack, and the details of what occurred. This information may be helpful in a College proceeding or a court case.

The wishes of a victim who does not want to report a sexual assault to the local police will prevail unless senior College officials believe the seriousness of the assault warrants police involvement due to the potential threat to others. If the sexual assault was perpetrated by a stranger to the victim and the incident is reported to College authorities (excluding counselors), the circumstances may warrant the publication of a Security Alert in order to notify the Trinity community of the need for extreme caution (i.e., if the perpetrator is not apprehended and poses a continuing threat to the community).

The victim's identity will remain confidential regardless of the responding authority. The victim may even request a third party, including a College Counselor or counselors with the YWCA Sexual Assault Crisis Service (SACS) in Hartford at 522-6666, to report the incident to College officials or the police to protect his or her anonymity.

Victims are encouraged to seek prompt medical attention following an assault whether or not she/he intends to report the assault to the authorities. Medical evaluation will allow the assessment, treatment, and documentation of any physical injuries, as well as prophylactic treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. Should the victim decide to proceed with criminal and/or civil charges against the assailant, a medical-legal specimen may be taken for evidentiary purposes.

The Dean of Students will, to the extent possible and necessary, facilitate the reassignment of living quarters and/or academic situations to prevent contact between a victim and an assailant.

Any sexual assaults reported to College officials will be handled in the manner described under "Procedures in Grievances Against Students" or "Procedures in Adjudicating Complaints Against Faculty Members" in the Trinity College Student Handbook. The Director of Human Resources will handle a complaint against an administrator or staff member.
 
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Sexual Assault Awareness and Education

The Women’s Center, Residential Life staff, and the Dean of Students Office sponsor in the residential halls and at all-campus presentations various educational programs related to sexual assault. The Women's Center periodically sponsors self-defense courses geared toward women. Campus Safety also sponsors self-defense training, and has certified instructors within the department who teach rape prevention and assertiveness in conjunction with self-defense.

The Sexual Assault Task Force (SATF) is a group dedicated to ending sexual assault on campus. The SATF organizes an annual Sexual Assault Awareness Week, which is dedicated to increasing awareness and education concerning issues surrounding sexual assault.

The complete text of the College's policies on sexual harassment and sexual assault are found in the Trinity College Student Handbook.

Resources for Victims of Sexual Assault

Anyone who has been sexually assaulted or feels harassed or otherwise discriminated against on gender or sexual grounds should know of the many sources of support, referral, and counseling available both on campus and off. Confronting sexual harassment and assault is difficult, and a first step might be to speak with a friend.

Below is a listing of resources available to assist members of the Trinity community who wish to report a sexual assault or sexual harassment, who seek counseling, or who have other questions relating to sexual assault or harassment:

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Residential Security

Residence hall security is a combined effort of the Campus Safety department, the Residential Life staff, and the residents. Individual room doors are equipped with computerized combination locks. Exterior doors remain locked 24 hours a day, and students are urged to keep their room doors closed and locked at all times.

The exterior doors in residence halls are now fitted with strobe lights and alarm systems.  If someone props a door to a residence hall, first the strobe light will activate and subsequently a very loud alarm will sound, encouraging residents to close the door.  If someone forces a door open from the outside, the alarm will sound immediately and Campus Safety will respond. 

Visitors and guests of students residing in College housing are the responsibility of their hosts. College regulations prohibit the disclosure of personal access codes to unauthorized persons. Residents are informed of these and other policies relating to residential security at new student orientation and when they agree to the Residential Contract prior to occupancy. Residential Life staff members, Campus Safety Officers, and administrators in the Dean of Students' Office enforce the rules and policies relating to residential security.

Ongoing education about residential security issues and practices takes place through residence hall programs and meetings. Campus Safety is also involved in ongoing efforts to increase student awareness through newsletters and publications.

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Buildings and Grounds Security

The College is dedicated to ensuring the security of its buildings and the safety of its grounds. Campus Safety and custodial personnel secure academic and administrative buildings each day after classes and business activities have ended. Students are discouraged from studying in remote campus locations; instead, they are urged to use study lounges in residential halls, the Mather Dining Hall, or the library. Some facilities to which access is required after business hours, such as the Math, Computing, and Engineering Center, are on card-key access systems for reasons of personal safety and building security.

Campus Safety Officers patrol campus grounds in vehicles and on foot 24 hours a day. Trinity's campus is well lighted, and Campus Safety performs regular checks to ensure that all lights are operating and other safety systems in place. Fencing around much of the campus helps to promote both personal safety and the security of property.

The Department of Buildings and Grounds maintains College facilities and grounds with a concern for safety and security. Campus Safety works closely with Buildings and Grounds since Campus Safety Officers often identify hazardous conditions during their patrol activities, and also respond to reported safety and security hazards after normal working hours.

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Possession and Use of Alcohol and Controlled Substances

The College expects students and other members of the community to observe the various laws, statutes, and ordinances that govern the provision of alcohol in Connecticut and in Hartford. Connecticut law prohibits the purchase and possession of alcoholic beverages by persons less than 21 years of age. The full policy on alcohol provision and consumption can be found in the Trinity College Student Handbook under "Policy on Alcohol Provision and Use."

All Connecticut and federal statutes concerning the illegal possession, use, distribution, sale, manufacture, or prescription of any controlled drug or narcotic must also be observed by students and others while on campus or bound by the College's regulations. On occasion, the College may find itself obligated to apprise the appropriate public agencies when it has knowledge of violations of laws relating to the possession, manufacture, use, distribution, or prescription of controlled drugs or narcotics. See the "Policy on Drug Usage" in the Trinity College Student Handbook.

Trinity encourages those who become involved with illegal drug use or abusive use of alcohol to seek assistance from the College's various counseling and medical resources. Students may choose to obtain confidential help from the Dean of Student’s Office, Counseling Center, Heath Center, Office of Residential Life or the Chaplain’s Office. No punishment will be forthcoming from voluntary efforts to seek help.

The Trinity College Emergency Response Team, (TCERT), is Trinity’s student volunteer EMT Service and can be activated by calling the Campus Safety Department at X2222. Campus Safety supervisors are EMT certified, and are on duty 24 hours a day. 

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