Residential Safety Policies

• Inconsiderate behavior (including irresponsible behavior resulting from alcohol or other drug abuse) and excessive noise is prohibited.
• The use of bicycles, in-line skates, skateboards, or other recreational devices in residential buildings are prohibited.
• Participation in any type of sport activity (including water fights) in the hallways and/or public areas of residential buildings is prohibited.
• Throwing any objects (including snowballs) toward the residential communities (or other College-owned buildings) is prohibited.
• Certain areas are off limits to students at all times. Regardless of whether the area is accessible through a window, door, hatch, or other, access to the following spaces is prohibited and students found in such areas are subject to restriction from housing: roofs, mechanical rooms, storage spaces, custodial closets, attics, and ledges.
• Except in the case of an emergency, students are prohibited from exiting rooms via windows.

The misuse of windows and window screens can present a serious safety hazard to students and other College community members. The following guidelines are in place to address these concerns:

• Residents may not remove the screens or window stops from their room window or other windows in the residential building at any time, nor take any action that may tend to damage the window, window screens, tracks, or closures.
• No objects of any type, (including liquid) may be thrown, dropped, pushed out of, placed outside of, or allowed to fall from any residential building window. Students found responsible for such actions will face residential censure.

Safety and security systems are maintained for the general welfare of the community and are not to be abused. Propping exterior doors is prohibited.

• Sharing a student ID is prohibited and will result in disciplinary action.
• When individual rooms are left unattended, the door and window(s) should be kept closed and locked.
• Solicitors, canvassers, delivery persons, peddlers, and other unauthorized people are not permitted to enter residential facilities. Residents should not negotiate with such people or admit them into campus facilities; Campus Safety should be notified immediately of such individuals.
• In order to maintain safe evacuation routes, students are not permitted to leave or lock bicycles/scooters in hallways or stairways.

Fire safety is a serious matter, and it is the responsibility of every resident to protect themselves as well as their hall mates. Covering and/or tampering with a smoke detector endangers not only your life, but also the lives of everyone in the residential community. Time is a crucial element when responding to a fire and covering or tampering with fire safety equipment can significantly impact a professional response.

Please remember the following:

• Do not overload electrical outlets, and make sure extension cords are used properly.
• Do not cover and/or tamper with smoke detectors for any reason at any time.
• Do not tamper with exit signs.
• Do not smoke in College buildings.
• Do not use candles or incense.
• Do not leave cooking equipment unattended when in use (even microwaves).
• Do not leave lamps on when you are not in your room.
• Never disregard fire alarms; immediately exit the building when an alarm sounds.
• Residents must familiarize themselves with emergency exit locations and evacuation procedures.
• When a fire alarm sounds, all students are required to evacuate the building. The directions of staff, Campus Safety, and fire-safety officers are to be followed at all times. Failure to evacuate a building when a fire alarm sounds and/or at the request of a College or Fire Department official will result in disciplinary action.
• Intentionally sounding (pulling) a false alarm; making a false emergency call; attempting to ignite and/or igniting a substance; issuing a bomb threat; constructing mock explosive devices; or tampering with, destroying, and/or possessing fire equipment, emergency signs, and sprinklers are prohibited. Such action is considered to be in violation of state and local ordinances. Abuse of fire safety systems may result in (1) the levying of financial damages up to $1,000, (2) immediate eviction, and/or (3) indefinite restriction from campus residence. The residents of an entire building may be billed for common-area damages (here, false alarms) when the responsible party/parties are unknown.
• Fire-alarm pull stations, fire extinguisher cabinets, smoke detectors, and exit signs must not be covered and exits must remain free from obstruction at all times. Even temporary obstruction of such items is prohibited.
• Safety inspections will be conducted by Residential Learning Community staff members each semester in order to determine compliance with safety regulations. Restricted items may be removed during such inspections.

• Items prohibited in residential buildings, include but are not limited to: candles; incense; air conditioners; waterbeds; halogen lamps; open-coiled electrical or heating appliances including toasters, toaster ovens, hot plates (including George Foreman-style grills), barbecue grills, broilers, space heaters, immersion heaters, and ovens; butane lighters; lava lamps; and use or storage of any type of flammable liquid.
• Small refrigerators; microwaves; and electric coffeepots, hot pots, and tea kettles (with automatic shutoff) are permitted if they are UL (Underwriters Lab, Inc.) listed. Amperage limitations may be imposed.
• Decorative wall coverings must not cover any room fixtures (lights, sprinkler systems, etc.) or hang freely from the ceiling.
• Use of darts and dartboards in any area of the residential buildings are prohibited.
• Construction of lofts of any type is prohibited.
• Cement-type blocks (cinder, etc.) are prohibited.
• Holiday trees must be artificial and holiday lights must be UL-approved and low wattage. Holiday lights must not come into contact with flammable wall hangings and cannot be hung where they come in contact with walls.
• Antennas, satellite dishes, or other external devices are prohibited from the exteriors of the residential buildings.
• Extension cords must be in the form of “surge protectors” or heavy-duty (indoor-outdoor) quality.
• The outdoor use of barbecue grills and/or hibachis must take place at least 20 feet from College buildings. Such items (and charcoal, lighter fluid, etc.) may not be stored in residential spaces under any circumstances and will be subject to confiscation and disposal.
• The use, possession, manufacture, sale, or distribution of weapons such as firearms, air soft guns/rifles, BB guns, facsimile weapons, ammunition, explosives, hand weapons, knives, or fireworks of all kinds is prohibited.