Campus Security Policy 2007-08

Q: What is the Campus Safety Mission Statement?

The mission of the Campus Safety department at Connecticut College is to provide a safe and secure environment for all members of the college community. Campus Safety staff members are committed to this mission. The physical safety of the students and their possessions is our main priority.

Q: What is the College's Security Policy?

The 714-acre Connecticut College campus sits on a hill overlooking Long Island sound and the city of New London. Although nestled in a relatively bucolic setting, the college has taken significant precautions to protect the safety of our students.

In 2005-2006, there were 1,944 undergraduate students enrolled at Connecticut College. These undergraduate students reside in 25 residence halls on campus. The college employs 771 faculty and staff.

Our efforts to make the campus a safer place to live and learn began long before campus crime because a national issue. We believe that crime prevention is everyone's responsibility and that education is one of our most effective methods.

During orientation, all first-year students participate in a series of discussions on campus crime with the director of campus safety, the dean of freshmen, staff from the office of student life and housefellows. The education starts with the basics, such as locking your door even if you are out of your room for just a few minutes, not propping dormitory doors open and reporting suspicious individuals.

Further programs on topics such as personal safety awareness and security, rape prevention and the prevention of burglary and vandalism are conducted throughout the academic year. Information on safety and security is provided to students and employees regularly through posters, articles in campus publications and an emergency alert system that provides the entire campus with information in a timely manner about individuals who may be involved in suspicious activity.

At the start of the 1991-92 academic year, a new controlled dormitory access system because operational. The state-of-the-art system makes dormitories accessible to students via strict Personal Identification Number access control procedures. Access to residence halls by college employees is on an "as needed" basis. The general public attends cultural and recreational events on campus with their access limited only to the facilities in which these events are held.

Potential criminal actions and other emergencies on campus shall be instantly reported by any student, faculty member or employee by dialing extension 111. Upon receipt of the call, campus safety officers are dispatched immediately to the site of the complaint. Campus clergy and professional counselors encourage students to report all crimes on a voluntary and confidential basis.

The Physical Plant maintains the college's buildings and grounds with a special concern for safety and security. Repairs of a safety and security nature are made promptly. Immediate attention is also given to reports of potential safety and security hazards, such as broken windows and locks.

The college campus is well lighted and further lighting improvements are being made, including placing high-intensity sodium vapor lights on buildings and in parking lot areas. A lighting survey is done weekly and damaged or burnt lights are repaired immediately. In addition to a telephone in each student's room, there are 16 outdoor and indoor emergency telephones strategically placed across the campus. These phones are connected directly to campus safety. Also all dorms have at least one outside phone that can be used to call campus safety in any emergency.

The department of campus safety is responsible to the vice president for administration. There are 18 full-time campus safety officers, supervisors and dispatchers, none of whom have arrest powers. These employees, who are screened for past involvement in criminal offenses, provide service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All have been trained in emergency medical procedures, first aid, fire containment and CPR. They conduct foot and vehicular patrols of the campus and residence halls areas 24 hours a day. The department also employs students in a "student patrol," which assists full-time officers when called upon, performs escort services and building and parking lot checks. The department of campus safety works closely with local, state and federal law enforcement authorities.

Firearms and dangerous weapons of any type are prohibited on campus. Possession of firearms or other dangerous weapons by students is strictly forbidden and is a violation of the student code of conduct.

Students found using or possessing illegal drugs are subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion. Students who supply or sell drugs are subject to disciplinary proceedings that may lead to immediate dismissal, and they may also face criminal liability. The college may also submit to local law enforcement authorities the names of students it believes to have supplied or sold drugs.

When a student's name occurs repeatedly in connection with a drug or alcohol problem, a Student Life dean will contact him or her. Drug use, which is an infraction of state or federal law and of college regulations, will result in disciplinary action and is viewed as a serious health concern. A student's alcohol use involving or contributing to an infraction of college regulations will also result in disciplinary action.

The college does not condone the use of prescription drugs for purposes other than those prescribed by a licensed physician. Drugs other than those prescribed by a licensed physician for legitimate health purposes may not be used or stored on college property.

Students are encouraged and may be required to resolve their drug or alcohol problems with a professional counselor on or off campus. Deans may notify parents or guardians of a student's alcohol or drug problem. In some instances, a student may be required to withdraw from school and will not be permitted to return until successful resolution of the problem is documented to the satisfaction of the college.

Health risks associated with the use of illicit drugs can be found on the National Institute on Drug Abuse website at http://www.nida.nih.gov and those associated with the abuse of alcohol can be found on the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism website at http://www.niaaa.nih.gov

Q: What is the Connecticut College Sexual Misconduct Policy?

Connecticut College believes that acts of sexual misconduct are reprehensible. Members of the campus community have the right to be free from abuse, personal force and violence or threats of violence. All students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not infringe upon the rights of others. Connecticut College's Sexual Misconduct Policy has been developed to reaffirm these principles and to provide recourse for those individuals whose rights have been violated. This policy is to be followed in all cases of alleged sexual misconduct in which the alleged perpetrator is a student. Depending upon the circumstances of an individual complaint, the College's policy on felonies may apply. In cases in which the alleged perpetrator is a College employee, the College's faculty and staff sexual misconduct policies are to be followed.

Connecticut College defines "sexual misconduct" as any non-consensual sexual contact. Non-consensual sexual contact includes a variety of behaviors ranging from unwanted sexual touching to sexual intercourse, if the person who is being subjected to the contact indicates, either verbally or non-verbally, that s/he does not want the contact to occur or continue. A subsequent indication of consent is possible in such situations, but it must be freely given. A verbal "no" (no matter how indecisive) or resistance (no matter how passive) constitutes lack of consent. Silence or prior relationship, by themselves, are not sufficient to indicate consent.

Persons subjected to sexual contact may be incapable of giving consent because of permanent or temporary mental or physical incapacity. When the alleged perpetrator knows or should have known that person was incapable of giving consent, he or she may be subject to charges of sexual misconduct.

The college reserves the right to take whatever measures it deems necessary in response to a charge of sexual misconduct in order to protect the rights and personal safety of anyone bringing a complaint. Such measures include, but are not limited to, modification of living arrangements, summary removal from campus pending a hearing and reporting to the local police. Not all forms of sexual misconduct will be deemed to be equally serious offenses, and the College reserves the right to impose differing sanctions, ranging from oral warning to expulsion, depending on the severity of the offense. The College will consider the concerns and rights of both the complainant and the person accused of sexual misconduct.

Q: What is the proper complaint procedure?

A. Informal Support System

The informal support system provides an individual bringing a complaint an opportunity to make decisions about resolving the complaint informally, filing or defending a formal complaint, seeking personal counseling, finding community resources to assist in dealing with the issue and, possibly, filing criminal assault charges.

The informal support system provides reasonably confidential one-on-one counseling for all parties involved in a sexual misconduct complaint. Confidentiality will be protected unless there is imminent danger to the complainant or the College community. This informal process is initiated by contacting any of the individuals outlined on the support system chart included in this policy.

B. Informal/Formal Resolution System

When an individual believes that a crime has been committed, it is recommended that the New London Police Department be notified. Depending upon the circumstances of an individual complaint, the College's Policy on Felonies may apply. An individual who believes that the College's Sexual Misconduct Policy has been violated by a Connecticut College student is encouraged to file a compliant with the Dean of Student Life or the Dean of the College. This procedure can be used to establish violations of the code of student conduct, but not whether or not a criminal act has been committed.

Any individual who seeks resolution of the complaint on campus is encouraged to submit a letter to the Dean of the College, Dean of Student Life or the Dean's designee describing the complaint and the evidence upon which it is based, specifying the issues in question and indicating what redress or resolution is sought. The complain should be brought to the attention of the Dean or the Dean's designee as soon as possible after the action giving rise to it, but in no case may a complaint be submitted later than one year after the action complained of. The Dean or the Dean's designee, within the first three weeks after the submissions of the compliant, may try to resolve the complaint informally. However, if the complaint has not been resolved within this three0week period, the Dean or his or her designee will refer it to the Dean's Grievance committee if the person bringing the complaint indicates that s/he agrees that such a referral should be made.

The Dean's Grievance Committee is a standing committee that is thoroughly trained in issues relating to sexual misconduct. Its composition and procedures are described in detail in the student handbook. The committee makes a decision regarding the case and if appropriate, determines an appropriate sanction. The decision is communicated to the Complainant and the Respondent by the chair, the Dean of Student Life.

College sanctions range from oral warning to permanent expulsion. Typical sanctions are disciplinary probation, suspension, community service, referral for an educational program and/or counseling. Depending upon the circumstances of an individual complaint the College's Policy on Felonies may apply.

C. New London Police

Connecticut College encourages individuals to report sexual assaults (criminal acts) to the local police. A student may report an alleged sexual assault to the police as well as seek internal College support and/or informal or formal College action for alleged sexual misconduct. Connecticut College Campus Safety is available to arrange a neutral meeting place for an initial contact with the police and, if desired, a representative of the College will accompany the student. The College has no control over the investigative and legal process that may result when a crime is reported to the police. This investigation is conducted by the New London Police Department and the New London State's Attorney's office.

D. Timely Warnings

A Timely Warning is issued to the college community based on pertinent information concerning a certain crime that has occurred or the possibility that a crime may occur. This warning may be issued via e-mail, voice mail and/or the distribution of a flyer or poster. The warning is distributed to the college community by the Campus Safety office in conjunction with the Office of Student Life, Dean of the College and Media/College Relations.

Q: What if a student has problems with alcohol?

Connecticut College recognizes that alcohol use and abuse can have a serious negative impact on college-age individuals and the educational environment. Students concerned with their own or others' use of alcohol are encouraged to discuss their concerns with any member of the Student Counseling Services and/or Student Health Services Staff. Campus Safety, Student Counseling Services, Student Health Services and The Office of the Dean of Student Life provide educational information about alcohol concerns, personal and group counseling in regard to these problems, and medical evaluations. Services are confidential.

Q: Whom does one contact in the Office of the Dean of Student Life?

Student Counseling Services x4587
Dr. Janet Spoltore, Director

Student Health Services x2275
Cate Moffett, Director

Office of the Dean of Student Life x2825

Office of Residential Life and Housing x2834

Student Activities x2834
Scott McEver, Director of Student Activities

Office of Campus Safety x2251
Thomas Hogarty, Director of Campus Safety

Campus Safety Department - 2222

Campus Safety Emergency Number - 111

Q: What are the official crime definitions from the Uniform Crime Reporting Handbook for crimes reported relative to the Campus Crime Statistics Act?

Arson
Any willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn, with or without intent to defraud, a dwelling house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, personal property of another, etc.

Criminal Homicide-Manslaughter by Negligence
The killing of another person through gross negligence.

Criminal Homicide-Murder and Non-negligent Manslaughter
The willful (non-negligent) killing of one human being by another.

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

Aggravated Assault
An unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. This type of assault usually 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 which could and probably would result in serious personal injury if the crime were successfully complete.)

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

Motor Vehicle Theft
The theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle. (Classify as motor vehicle theft all cases where automobiles are taken by persons not having lawful access even though the vehicles are later abandoned including joyriding.)

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

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 (morphine, heroin, codeine); marijuana; synthetic narcotics (demerol, methadones); and dangerous non-narcotic drugs (barbiturates, benzedrine).

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 a minor or intemperate person; using a vehicle for illegal transportation of liquor; drinking on a train or public conveyance; and all attempts to commit any of the aforementioned. (Drunkenness and driving under the influence are not included in this definition.)

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.

Sex Offenses-Non-forcible
Unlawful, non-forcible sexual intercourse.

Hate Crimes

Race
A preformed negative attitude toward a group of persons who possess common physical characteristics (e.g., color of skin, eyes, and/or hair; facial features, etc.) genetically transmitted by descent and heredity which distinguish them as a distinct division of humankind (e.g., Asians, blacks, whites).

Gender
A preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of persons because those persons are male or female. Gender bias is also a Clery Act-specific term, not found in the FBI's Hate Crime Data Collection Guidlines.

Religion
A preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of persons who share the same religious beliefs regarding the origin and purpose of the universe and the existence or nonexistence of a supreme being (e.g., Catholics, Jews, Protestants, atheists).

Sexual orientation
A preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of persons based on their sexual attraction toward, and responsiveness to, members of their own sex or members of the opposite sex (e.g., gays, lesbians, heterosexuals).

Ethnicity/national origin
A preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of persons of the same race or national origin who share common or similar traits, languages, customs and traditions (e.g., Arabs, Hispanics).

Disability
A preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of persons based on their physical or mental impairments/challenges, whether such disability is temporary or permanent, congenital or acquired by heredity, accident, injury, advanced age or illness.