Personal Safety Tips

• 1. Lock your room door when you are sleeping or not in the room.
• 2. Lock your bike with a high security lock.
• 3. Report unfamiliar persons or people who are acting strangely to a residence life coordinator or dean immediately.
• 4. Walk in well-lighted areas.
• 5. Report all incidents, attacks, or threats to the local police immediately and then contact a Residence Life Coordinator. A direct call to the police may enable them to locate the person involved while the person is still on campus.
• 6. Store money and valuables in appropriate places.
• 7. Close outside hall doors during the locked hours.

Absence from College During the Semester
Students planning to be away from campus should notify their RLC or housemates. When the Student Affairs office is notified of a missing student, Student Affairs staff will attempt to locate the student to ensure his/her safety.

Campus Emergencies
All information associated with a campus emergency is distributed to the campus community (via email and/or e2 campus text notification) from the Campus Safety and Security Office.

If a fire occurs in a campus building, everyone should quickly exit the building, using available stairways and fire escapes. The emergency signal for a fire is a continuous alarm. After reaching safety, call the Campus Safety and Security Office at ext. 4600 or dial 911 for assistance.

See the Campus Safety and Security Office website: http://www.grinnell.edu/offices/security/ for further information concerning emergencies on campus.

If a fire occurs in a campus building, everyone should quickly exit the building, using available stairways and fire escapes. The emergency signal for a fire is a continuous alarm. After reaching safety, call the Safety and Security Department at ext. 4600 or dial 911 for assistance.

Emergency Telephones and Numbers
Every student room has a private phone. In addition to the student room phones, there are phones scattered throughout the hallways of the residence halls and three outdoor emergency box phones (James loggia, Smith loggia, and at the college outdoor track).

Each weekend, beginning at 5:00 p.m. Friday, while school is in session, a Residence Life Coordinator and a Student Affairs dean are on-call to respond to student emergencies. Call the security office at 269-4600 to request to speak with the on-call Residence Life Coordinator or Student Affairs dean.

Building Access
Students must comply with safety regulations in College residence halls and college-owned houses.

Residence halls and college-owned houses are secured 24 hours per day. The security of the building and safety of the students depends upon students closing and locking doors and windows at all times. Since closed and locked doors are the basis of Grinnell's campus security system, please do not prop the loggia or fire escape doors open. Academic buildings are locked in the evenings and opened at 8 a.m. daily. When school is not in session, academic buildings are locked at 5 p.m. and opened at 8 a.m. The Campus Safety and Security Office and Facilities Management are responsible for locking and unlocking buildings on campus.

Lost keys should be reported to Campus Safety and Security and the Office issuing the keys. Lost residence hall room keys should be reported to a Residence Life Coordinator. When a student room key is missing, Facilities Management will change the lock core.

Mechanical problems with locks, doors, or other security or fire equipment should be reported to Facilities Management or the Campus Safety and Security Office.

The electronic locking information will only be used in case of emergencies and security or safety issues (example: locating a lost or missing student, damaging the system, or investigating a crime, or when authorized by the Vice President for Student Affairs).

Fire Safety Procedures
The act of discharging a fire extinguisher, lighting a fire, and misuse or tampering with the alarm or sprinkler systems is considered irresponsible behavior and endangers the lives of others and results in immediate judicial action. The College also reserves the right to pursue criminal charges through the appropriate authorities.

The minimum penalty for discharging fire extinguishers or misuse or tampering with fire alarm or sprinkler systems includes a minimum $50 fine and subject to campus disciplinary actions.

When the individual responsible cannot be identified, the fine is equally divided among the hall or house residents and taken from their continuing enrollment deposit. Students are encouraged not to walk on fire escapes or the roofs of college buildings except during drills or a fire emergency. Students found in the residence hall after the fire alarm has sounded may be fined $20 which will be billed to their student account.

If a fire is discovered in any college building, call the Campus Safety and Security Office, 260-4600. Identify yourself and give the fire's location. The emergency signal is a continuous sounding of the fire alarm. In case of a fire, each person in the residence hall should leave the building as quickly as possible, using available stairways and fire escapes. Each student should also leave room door unlocked, and close the door upon exiting their room. Students should walk quietly and quickly downstairs and stand in a designated area away from the building.

Fireplaces and Fire Wood
Most residence halls are equipped with fireplaces available for use on a group basis. Fires are not allowed in fireplaces in college owned houses. When available, firewood is provided free for hall activities. To obtain firewood for a hall event, contact the Residence Life Coordinator of the residence hall in which the fireplace is located. This should be done a day in advance, minimum.

Bonfires
Bonfires/camp fires are only allowed in specific locations. Facilities Management designates these areas. There is currently only one location on campus where bonfires/camp fires are allowed. This location is on the north side of campus next to the tennis court parking lot and Grinnell College athletic track. For more details about exact location, please contact Facilities Management. The following procedures must be followed:

• 1. All bonfires must be approved by a dean in the Office of Student Affairs.
• 2. Only wood supplied by Facilities Management can be used. Students are not allowed to provide their own wood. Students must request firewood from Facilities Management at least one day in advance. If a large amount of wood is requested, Facilities Management may need at least one week prior notification.
• 3. Alcohol is not allowed anywhere outside on the Grinnell College campus.
• 4. The student(s) requesting the bonfire/camp fire is responsible for extinguishing the fire prior to leaving the site. Organizer must discuss proper extinguishing procedures with Facilities Management prior to the event.
• 5. No bonfires/camp fires are permitted when the City of Grinnell has a burning ban.
• 6. If at any time during the bonfire/camp fire, a Grinnell College staff member or security officer feels the fire is out of control, the fire will be extinguished.
• 7. Failure to follow these procedures results in Judicial action.

Barbecues
A limited number of barbecue grills are available for student use. Permission must be obtained from the Director of Facilities Management before barbecues can be set on college property. Under no circumstances are students allowed to barbecue on the loggia.

Open Flames
Candles are prohibited in the residence halls, houses, and on loggias.

Fireworks Policy
The use of fireworks is illegal by Iowa law. The possession or use of fireworks on campus is prohibited. Policy violation may result in a fine and/or judicial action.

Firearms and Weapons
Conduct which endangers the safety of the residential community is prohibited. For this reason no resident shall have in his/her possession any weapons or firearms. Any weapon, including a starter gun, that expels (or is designed to, or may readily be converted to expel) a projectile by the action of an explosive is considered a firearm. Other weapons prohibited from campus include air tasers, stun guns, bows and arrows, air guns, and pellet guns, BB guns, dangerous chemicals, switch blades, swords, or anything commonly considered a weapon.

Under no circumstances may students store or possess firearms or weapons in college owned housing, college buildings, college property or vehicles stored on campus.

Any violation of this policy is considered extremely serious and may lead to immediate suspension or dismissal from the College.

Tornado/Severe Storms Procedures
During stormy weather, listen to your radio for weather service reports. The weather service will report if this area is under a severe thunderstorm or tornado watch. A watch means that conditions exist which make a severe storm or tornado possible. A warning means that a severe storm or tornado has been sighted. If a warning is issued for Grinnell and N.E. Poweshiek County, seek appropriate shelter as posted on all residence hall bulletin boards. If a tornado is sighted in this area, warning sirens will sound. The sirens, one of which is located near Norris Hall, make a long, continuous, loud sound. When you hear it during a storm, don't hesitate. Take shelter immediately. (There is no all-clear signal. You must use your own judgment in resuming normal activities. Also the sirens are tested at 9:00 a.m. each Thursday during the tornado season, usually April through November.)

During a warning:

• Go to the lowest floor of any building you are in, a basement orresidence hall pit, and head for interior spaces or rooms that face east, preferably north and east. (Rooms facing north and east are usually safer than those that face south and west.)
• Get into a room or area without windows. If this is not possible, stay away from the windows or exterior walls. Get behind/under a heavy piece of furniture or object to protect against flying debris.
• Avoid corridors, particularly those facing west or south. If you have to take shelter in a corridor, open and prop any doors that have glass or break out the glass.
• Avoid any building with a long flat roof or large open spaces in its interior (PEC, Library, Harris Center, or Roberts Theatre).

If you are in a car and there's a tornado warning, get out of the car and seek shelter in a building basement. If there's not enough time, lie flat in a ditch or other depression off the roadway.

Don't call the college switchboard, Facilities Management, or the city police during a tornado warning period, except in the event of a clear emergency. Those lines should be kept open for emergency purposes.

Terrorism Threat Level Response
The United States Attorney General, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, assigns national threat conditions for Homeland Security. The higher the threat level condition, the greater the risk of a terrorist attack. Risk includes both the probability of an attack occurring and its potential gravity.

The two levels which are of most concern to the Grinnell College community are: Severe (Red) and High (Orange).

When the threat level is severe (Red),selected campus buildings may be secured and only authorized persons will be allowed to stay in campus buildings.

For further information on Terrorism Threat Level responses, please visit the Campus Safety and Security Office website: http://www.grinnell.edu/offices/security/

Unfortunately, just as in any city or with any college students, Grinnellians are sometimes exposed to crime. Everyone on campus plays an important role in preventing and reporting crime. Crime isn't your problem; it's a campus problem. We must cooperate with each other and law enforcement agencies to maintain a safe campus.

Annual Security Report Campus Security Act
The Annual Security Report Campus Security Act includes statistics for the most recent three year period concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus, in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the College, and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The report includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You may obtain a copy of this report by contacting the Campus Safety and Security Office, Crime Prevention Unit, 1432 East Street, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. This information is also available on the Internet by going to the Campus Safety and Security Office website.

Incident Reporting
If you are a victim of a crime, it is important that you report the incident to the Campus Safety and Security Office. Sometimes police or College officials can detect a pattern of criminal behavior. Reporting a crime is the only way to deter the same person from hurting someone else or stealing again. The Campus Safety and Security Office can help you report a crime to the police.

Because of recent changes in federal and state laws, certain College officials will notify police when crimes such as rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and burglary are reported to them. These incidents are reported to the police because they could pose a risk to other members of the campus community.

The Campus Safety and Security Office also provides the College community with timely warnings of reported crimes that are considered to be a threat to other students and employees. When there is an immediate risk to the campus, campus alert bulletins (emails and text messages) are sent to the campus community.

Security Programs
Grinnell College is committed to providing a safe environment for students and employees. Over the years, the College has launched a number of programs to enhance campus safety:

• The College established the Campus Safety and Security Department in 1998.
• Residence Life Coordinators and the Student Affairs deans respond to emergencies along with Campus Safety and Security officers.
• The College improved campus lighting by installing lamps that reflect light down to the ground and by the annual review of lighting patterns on campus.
• The Division of Student Affairs and the Safety and Security Department conduct prevention and education programs throughout the academic year.
• The Division of Student Affairs and the Safety and Security Department periodically post safety reminders.

The College does its utmost to make sure the Grinnell experience is a safe one. Students are expected to exercise sound personal safety. This includes locking residence hall room doors, walking in well-lit areas and storing money and valuables in safe places.

The "Student Conduct Policies" section of this on-line handbook contains a complete description of the student conduct system and its procedures, as well as details on College regulations. Every student is expected to review the material in this on-line handbook. When rules and regulations are violated, charges may be filed with the campus judicial board or councils.

Law Enforcement/Security
The campus is under the jurisdiction of the Campus Safety and Security Office, the Grinnell Police Office, and Iowa State Patrol. Grinnell police and the College's Campus Safety and Security Office conduct random foot and bicycle patrols on the campus during the school year.

The Campus Safety and Security Office is given the authority to enforce College rules and regulations. Grinnell police officers are deputized by the state to enforce state and federal laws and to make arrests. Their jurisdiction consists of the Grinnell city limits. The state patrol may assist Grinnell police, and are deputized by the state to enforce state and federal laws and to make arrests. Their jurisdiction is restricted to the state of Iowa.

Grinnellians are encouraged to report crimes to the Campus Safety and Security Office. The College enjoys a close working relationship with the local law enforcement agency. The Director of Campus Safety and Security meets regularly with a liaison of the police office to discuss crime-related issues.

Students may pursue charges in the criminal justice and/or the college's student conduct system. But the College's student conduct system cannot establish whether a criminal act has been committed. This system is designed only to hear cases when College regulations may have been violated. When an individual believes that a crime has been committed, the College encourages the victim to file charges with appropriate civil authorities. For a complete discussion of the College's conduct process and sanctions, please refer to the Student Conduct Policies section of this on-line handbook.

Property Losses
The College cannot accept responsibility for the loss of students' possessions and advises students to lock their room doors. Students should maintain insurance coverage against property loss or damage and keep a record of serial numbers. Any suspected thefts should be reported immediately to Security so that a description of the missing property can be circulated. A report should also be made promptly to the Safety and Security Department.

Strangers
When a student has a complaint about the activities of an uninvited or unregistered visitor, the incident needs to be reported to Security. The deans may ask college or civil authorities to escort the visitor from campus or to take any other appropriate legally sanctioned action for the protection of college persons and property. Non-students are not permitted in the residence halls without a guest pass or their host's verification of guest status.