Safety and Security

1. False fire alarms and tampering with fire safety equipment will result in a minimum $100 charge.  Unless the person responsible is identified, this charge will be assessed to the occupants of the corridor or apartment where the alarm was instigated.
2. Any student found responsible for turning in a false alarm or tampering with fire safety equipment will be subject to college disciplinary action and/or civil action.  This includes tampering with any smoke detectors.
3. Help make your hall safe by keeping fire doors closed, keeping hallways clear, and promptly reporting equipment that has been tampered with. The fire and safety procedures posted on your door must stay intact and should be referred to often.

Fire Drills and Evacuation Procedures: There will be one fire drill each semester in residence halls.  It is imperative that you know these procedures and respond quickly.  When an alarm sounds you do not know if it is real or false, so EVERY TIME the alarm sounds:

1. Leave your room immediately and close your door.
2. If possible, wear shoes and carry a towel for your face if there is smoke.

   If you smell smoke, feel your door. If it is hot:

   1. Keep it closed.
   2. Place towels around the cracks.
   3. Put a towel out the window to signal for help and yell.

      DO NOT JUMP unless ordered to do so!

   Failure to evacuate will result in serious disciplinary sanctions.  This is also a violation of state law.

   To Evacuate:

1. Leave by the closest exit.
2. If there is smoke, stay low to the ground.

Once Outside:

1. Stay away from the building, driveways, parking lots, and emergency vehicles.
2. Stay calm and avoid horseplay.
3. Do not reenter the building until an all-clear signal is given by the resident director or any other person in charge.
4. Follow instructions of Residence Life Office staff and/or city officials.

1. Specific procedures are posted in your hall.

All fire alarms must be taken seriously.  You may be saving your life or the life of someone else.  Failure to leave the building during a fire alarm will result in disciplinary action and/or a fine.

Gas Leaks: In the event of a major gas, leak follow the instructions of a Residence Life staff member and:

1. Do not use a phone in the area of the suspected leak.
2. Do not pull a fire alarm.
3. Do not touch any light switch or other appliance.
4. Leave windows and doors as they are.

Health & Other Emergencies:

1. Remain calm and act quickly.
2. Find an R.A. or R.D.
3. Call 9-911 and give an accurate description of the problem and directions to the location of the problem.

Keys: Doane provides locks on your residence hall room for your protection and it is your responsibility to use them.  On the first day, get in the habit of carrying your key and locking your door. If you have locked yourself out of your room, contact the R.A. on duty.  If a key to your room is lost, the lock will be re-keyed, and you will be billed. If you lose your key, tell your R.A. or R.D. immediately and they will put in a key request for you. Key replacement charges are as follows:

• All residence halls/apartments - room key/outside key  $25

Each hall, through its residence life staff and hall council, has the option to set a lockout policy.  Replacing and/or recoring a lock will cost the individual $25 to $35.

Outlets: There are limited electrical outlets in the residence hall rooms. Many extension cords can be a fire hazard.  As a general rule, only use one extension cord per outlet. Multi-outlet "power strip" cords (UL type) may be used.

Tornado: In the event of a "tornado watch" (weather conditions that lead to tornadoes), be prepared to take appropriate actions if a tornado is sighted.  Tornado warning sirens will go off if a tornado is sited.

When the tornado siren sounds:

1. Open windows.
2. Pick up a blanket for covering.
3. Move to the lowest level of the building, preferably the southwest corner.
4. Stay clear of windows and doors.
5. Obey instructions of residence life staff members.
6. Remain until all clear signals have been given (three short blasts).

          Above all, stay calm and do not go outside.

Theft: You are encouraged to take the following precautions:

1. Keep your room/lounge locked. (It only takes seconds to relieve someone of jewelry, cash, or a VCR).  Get in the habit of carrying your room/lounge key with you; it will help you keep your door locked and help to avoid annoying lockouts.
2. Keep your valuables, especially cash, out of plain view or locked safely away.
3. Confront strangers in your hall. It is not a crime to ask someone whom they are visiting and if they belong in your hall. You may prevent a crime.
4. Report unauthorized personnel who have a master key (generally only maintenance and residence life staff have master keys).
5. Report immediately all cases of theft to your residence life staff and the Student Leadership Office.
6. Do not store personal articles in areas that cannot be secured.
7. Check with your family's insurance agent about renter's insurance.  This is usually available at a fair rate.  The college assumes no responsibility for damages or thefts to personal property for any cause whatsoever.

Vandalism:  Residents are responsible to pay for damages that occur to the building or its furnishings if the guilty party is not determined.  Damages assessed to common areas will be prorated to all corridor or hall residents under these circumstances.  If someone is causing damage to your hall, confront them and contact a residence life member or any other college official.  Students who have guests in their room or hall are responsible for any damages that their guest(s) cause(s).  Please assist your hall community and help prevent irresponsible behavior.

Visitation Hours and Guests: For safety purposes, each residence hall community has set visitation hours during which time residents may entertain guests of the opposite sex in their residence hall rooms.  This does not include opposite sex individuals as overnight guests, which is prohibited by college policy.

Smith Hall and Sheldon Hall are same sex halls.  Students and guests of the opposite sex are not allowed in these halls after 12 a.m. weekdays and 1 a.m. weekends.  The college reserves the right to remove any student or guest for safety or policy violations.

Visitation hours are also contingent upon building lifestyle designation, the rights of all residents to privacy, reasonable quiet, and prior agreements between roommates.

Residents may, with the permission of their roommate, have guests of the same sex stay in their room up to 48 hours.  Guests of the opposite sex should inquire about guest housing or stay with a friend of the same sex.  All students should register their guest with the R.A. Office of their building by filling out a guest registration card.  Guests are not allowed to move from room-to-room or hall-to-hall to extend the 48-hour period, nor to repetitively stay on campus for 48-hour periods.  In addition, guests who violate college policy will be asked to leave the campus and hosts may have their visitation restricted.

If you see an individual in your hall that may not be the guest of a student, tell a residence life member.

Weapons Registration: For the safety of all members of the college community, handguns, BB guns, chuckas, swords, stars, and knives are strictly prohibited.  Sporting weapons, i.e., bows and arrows, firearms, and ammunition used in hunting, must be registered with your resident director and stored in the hall gun storage facilities.

Prohibited weapons that are unregistered and/or improperly stored will be confiscated immediately and will subject the owner to disciplinary action.  The college assumes no responsibility and/or liability for the loss and/or damage to weapons stored on campus.

Additional Information: