Campus Safety at Muskingum

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This publication is a compendium of information that must by, federal law, be distributed to all students, faculty, and staff of Muskingum College. For more information or additional copies please contact the Office of Student Life, 740-826-8080, or the Director of Campus Police at 740-826-8155.

Muskingum College places a high priority on the safety of its students and employees. To assure you of the best possible protection, the college employs a highly trained campus police force. Whether you are on the campus as a student, an employee, or a visitor, you can be confident that our campus police department is  working to keep you safe.

We welcome your suggestions on how to make Muskingum an even safer community. To share your ideas with a Campus Police representative, call the department at 740-826-8155. Campus Police officers are here to serve you twenty-four hours a day.
                                        Rex A. Newbanks
                                        Director of Campus Police

The Campus Police Department enforces all regulations and laws of the college, village, county and state of Ohio, and works closely with the New Concord Police Department, the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Department, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol whenever assistance is appropriate and in whatever manner specific situations require.

The Campus Police Department enforces laws relating to underage drinking, and the use of controlled substances and weapons. Personal possession of alcoholic beverages is restricted and illegal drugs are not permitted on campus. Firearms must be registered and stored in the Campus Police Department offices.

Safety- It’s everybody’s Job

Avoid working or studying alone in a building at night

Stay in well-lit areas, walk midpoint between curbs and buildings and away from alleys and bushes.

Don’t carry extra credit cards or money.

Walk with someone whenever possible, i.e., use the buddy system.

If your purse or wallet is snatched, don’t fight back. turn it over  rather than risk personal injury, and report the incident immediately.

Do not place purses, portable stereos, TV sets, or other valuables near windows which can be smashed by a tempted burglar.

Keep an inventory of valuable possessions. The Campus Police office has an  engraver that can be borrowed at any time to mark your valuables.

Keep doors locked, even if you are only away for a few moments.

Do not mark our key chain  with your name, address or license number. Lost keys can lead to theft.

Do not hesitate to call the Campus Police Department with any safety concerns.

Workplace Safety
Here are some suggestions for ensuring safety in the office or laboratory:
When working late, make sure doors are locked.
Keep your bag in a locked cabinet or drawer. Never leave it on or underneath a desk.
Avoid using stairs in remote sections of a building.
Never prop doors open, especially fire doors, even for a short time.
Do not hold a locked door open for strangers after normal business hours.

Reporting Procedures
Students and college employees report potential criminal actions and other emergencies on campus directly by phone or in person to the Campus Police Department.  In responding to complaints, the department’s officers make arrests when necessary, prepare incident reports and submit copies to the Student life Office, as well as to other campus departments that may be affected. Reports are forwarded to law enforcement agencies off campus on an as-needed basis. Campus Police has a much better chance of solving crimes when they are reported promptly and accurately.

Programming for Safety
A variety of campus organizations, including the Student Life and Campus Police offices, social clubs, fraternities and sororities, plan programs for the entire campus community on safety-related matters.

In the sessions, Student Life and Campus Police personnel deal with such topics as personal safety awareness and security, rape prevention, alcohol and substance abuse, and the prevention on burglary and vandalism. The college regularly provides information on safety and security matters to students and employees through seminars, bulletins, posters, brochures, and campus media.

Physical Plant personnel maintain the college’s buildings and grounds with concern for safety and security. They regularly inspect campus facilities, promptly making repairs affecting safety and security and responding immediately to reports of potential safety and security hazards such as broken windows or locks.

A well-lighted campus, a telephone system with phones in every residence hall room and lobby, outdoor emergency telephones at strategic locations, and access to 911 in emergency situations aid in the effort to assure campus safety.

Building Security
Muskingum College students and employees have access to academic, recreational and administrative campus facilities. Access to residence halls, however, is limited to students and their guests, with entry by college employees on an as-needed basis that involves strict key control procedures.

Muskingum has both single-sex and coed residence halls, each of which has limited visitation hours. The Residence Life staff includes an associate dean, area coordinators, student resident directors and resident assistants who live in the residence halls and are on call 24 hours a day. All residence staff members are trained in enforcing security policies as well as in crisis management, CPR, counseling and referral skills.

The main entrance of each residence hall is staffed with a desk assistant from 7 a.m. until midnight each weekday.  Desk assistants secure residence hall doors by midnight Sunday through Thursday nights and by 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights.

Exterior doors are checked regularly throughout the night by Campus Police officers.  Alarms attached to fire exit doors activate when opened.

Sharing the responsibility
Muskingum College encourages its students and employees to assume responsibility for their safety by becoming involved in and cooperating with campus safety programs.

Students, for example, are urged to take simple, common sense precautions for their own safety and the security of their belongings.  Although the campus is well lighted, students who feel more comfortable with additional security when returning to the residence halls from the main part of campus late at night may call the Campus Police Department for an escort.

Students are also encouraged to lock their doors at night and whenever their rooms are unoccupied, and to mark their valuable items such as stereos, cameras and televisions with engraving instruments available at no charge from the Campus Police Department.  The department also provides every student with a booklet outlining safety and security tips, recommended action when incidents occur, campus crime statistics, and a list of important telephone numbers.

Those students who bring cars to the campus must register them each year and park them in their assigned area.  Vehicles should be locked and valuables stowed and locked in the trunk.  Students are also encouraged to report any suspicious or unusual incidents to Student Life or Campus Police personnel.

Fire and Storm Exits
Fire and storm exit instruction signs are placed in buildings throughout campus.  Employees and students should familiarize themselves with the instructions on these signs.

Controlled Substances and Alcohol Policy

Muskingum College prohibits the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees on the college prremises or property or as part of any of it’s activities. Lawful and responsible consumption of beverage alcohol on college premises or during a staff or faculty activity is permitted at certain places and certain functions either provided or sanctioned by the college.

The College is committed to compliance with all federal, state and local laws. Ohio statute permits the consumption of beverage alcohol by any person who is 21 years of age, and prohibits individuals of legal age from selling or furnishing alcohol to anyone not of letal age. Ohio and federal laws prohibit the use possession, sale or offering for sale of narcotics, hallucinogens (including marijuana), or illicit drugs, or unlawful use of distribution of prescribed drugs.

Violation of college policy for employees and students includes use of any illegal drugs, narcotics, or hallucinogens on campus property or premises, or during campus activities or job performance; possession of any illegal drugs, hallucinogens, narcotics or alcohol, as well as drug-related paraphernalia, on the college premises or property or during any college activity; and trafficking in these illegal items whether procuring, sharing, giving, selling, manufacturing or causing to be procured, shared, given or sold.

On campus rehabilitation and counseling services are available through the Counseling Office, the Campus Minister and Student Peer Advisors. A list of agencies in the region that offer drug rehabilitation, assistance, or counseling services is also available to all students.