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Residence
Hall Safety
For many of you living on campus this is your first extended time away from
home. The
residence halls will quickly feel like home -- but you have to
remember that you are not home.
Each
of you will doubtless bring various items of your personal property, from
cash and credit cards to iPod's to personal computers, all of which are easy targets for a
criminal. Most of the crimes that
occur in the residence halls throughout the nation are thefts of personal property.
At CCSU we find that in almost every
case the victim's room is unlocked and unoccupied at the time of the theft.
Here are
some helpful hints to help you reduce the chances of becoming the "victim of a
crime":
Do not prop open
any exterior locked residence hall door. Even though propping the doors
makes it easier for you to get back into the residence halls, you also
have made it easier for unauthorized people to enter the building. You
don’t know whom you may be letting in, so for the safety of you and others
in the residence halls, do not prop open any exterior doors!
Lock your door when you leave and take your keys with you, no matter how
long you will be gone-even when you go to the bathroom. It only takes a
few seconds to be "ripped off".
Lock your door when you and/or your roommate are sleeping.
Do not leave notes on your door telling the world that no one is in or
when you will return. It's an open invitation for theft.
Keep wallets, purses, checkbooks and jewelry out of sight and locked up if
possible. Do not keep large sums of money on hand, and routinely check
your checkbook to see if any checks are missing.
Keep a record of all your valuable items, noting description, serial
number and approximate value of the items. In some cases you should
consider taking pictures of them. These records should be kept in a secure
location.
Check with your parents' insurance company to see if your property is
covered under their homeowner’s policy while you're living at
school.
Do not loan your room key, curfew key, or access control care to anyone.
Do not attach your keys to your University ID. It's another invitation for
theft.
Do not allow strangers into your room.
Do not open your door unless you know who is on the other side, especially
at night.
Do not allow door-to-door salespeople to enter the residence hall or your
room. Central Connecticut State University policy prohibits soliciting in
any building without prior written approval from the University.
Report any suspicious person or activity to the University Police,
832-2375
Even
though the University provides police services 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year, we are asking for your help.
Personal
Safety Personal
safety is foremost a personal responsibility. An essential fact to remember on
the topic of personal safety is the importance of being aware of your
surroundings. Ask yourself, "Am I increasing the chances that I may
become a victim of crime?"
Personal crime
prevention starts with the use of your common senses, easily ignored in our
busy everyday lives. The following personal safety tips are nothing new, but
it is important to be reminded of them from time to time. Remember that crime
happens during the day as well as at night.
Do not walk alone! Use the buddy system or the campus shuttle bus.
Do
not walk in dimly lit areas or take risky short cuts. Use well-traveled
and well-lit areas.
Do not jog alone-run with a partner. It's more fun and.. it's safer.
Do not carry large sums of money or flash money around. Money attracts
attention.
Do not wear walkman-type earphones, especially at night, while walking or
driving. They can prevent you from hearing what is going on around
you.
If you feel that you're being followed or you sense something wrong,
change direction or cross the street and head for a well-lit area, any
occupied building or to an emergency phone where you will be in direct
contact with the police dispatcher on campus.
If you are threatened scream "FIRE" and not the word
"help." In today's society the word "fire" attracts
more attention. Remember the criminal does not like noise or
attention.
Don't overload yourself with excessive books and/or other personal items
when walking.
Carry your purse close to your body and have the flap against your body.
If a purse/wallet snatcher or mugger confronts you do not resist. Money,
credit cards and other items may easily be replaced. You cannot. You
should record all credit card account numbers and keep them in a safe
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“Acquaintance Rape” |
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There is a type of sexual assault
that often goes unreported. It's called acquaintance rape.
Acquaintance rape is RAPE. It is
the unwanted sexual act forced by a date, a friend or an acquaintance.
Whether you call it acquaintance or date rape, it is still RAPE and it is a
serious crime. Sexual assault, which acquaintance rape is a form of, is
defined in Connecticut law as compelling "... another person to engage in
sexual intercourse and he/she uses force against such person." The term
sexual intercourse as used above has a broad meaning and it is not limited
to just vaginal intercourse.
There is a greater potential of
being a victim of acquaintance rape than there is of becoming a victim of
sexual assault by a stranger. One of the reasons for this is because we have
failed to listen to our common senses and have allowed ourselves to drop our
defenses. With this in mind, the University Police have put together a few
thoughts on the subject that you should consider and remember.
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Drink
responsibly and legally. Alcohol and drugs are major factors in
acquaintance rape. Enjoy yourself at parties, but remember that alcohol
and drugs affect the thinking process. They impair your judgment and
reasoning powers.
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Know your
sexual limits. Know when to stop and not go further than you want to.
You both have the right to stop at any time and to say NO!
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ALERT! Do not
accept drinks from people you do not know. A relatively new illegal drug
is available in some circles that makes you susceptible to sexual
assault and leaves the victim without a memory of the event.
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Do not give
mixed messages. Be clear and firm when you say NO!
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If you feel
you are getting mixed messages from your date, don't be afraid to ask
him/her how far he/she wants to go.
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Do not worry
about making a scene-trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable,
leave. Go anywhere there are other people. Remember there is safety in
numbers.
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Do not allow
yourself to get into difficult situations, i.e., being alone on your
first date, being alone in a stranger's room or being intoxicated with
someone you don't know very well. Think before you act.
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The excuse of
being intoxicated does not give a person the right to force his/her
wishes on another person. You are responsible for your action at all
times.
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If you happen
to become a victim of acquaintance rape or of a sexual assault you
should seek medical attention immediately. Do not wash, bathe, douche,
change your clothes, or straighten up the area where the attack
occurred. Call the Police, Sexual Assault Crisis Service, or simply go
to a hospital emergency room. Do not keep the incident bottled up inside
you; seek help from a support group and talk about it.
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Report all cases of
acquaintance rape and sexual assault to the University Police Department
even it you don't wish to press charges. The information you provide to
the University Police Department may be helpful in preventing further
attacks and even lead to the arrest of the offender. In many cases the
sex offender has a history of previous attacks and will continue until
stopped. The most important point to remember is to get the medical
attention and support you need.
Support groups are listed in the
contact numbers at the end of this brochure.
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Vehicle
Safety
Keep
your vehicle locked at all times-even in your driveway and when driving
during daylight hours.
Park in well-lit
areas and, when returning to your vehicle, have your keys ready before you
reach it.
Check the back seat before you get
in.
Keep your purse and other valuables out of
sight. Use the trunk of your vehicle.
If you feel that you are being followed,
change direction and head for a well-lit and populated area, i.e. stores,
malls or even to a police station.
If your vehicle breaks down, stay with it.
Make certain to lock the doors, put on your flashers and wait for help. If
a passerby offers to help do not get out of the vehicle.
Just open your
window a crack and ask the person to contact the police department.
Consider purchasing a cardboard windshield
protector with the words
"HELP-CALL THE POLICE" on it and use it
when you break down.
Use
your senses and be aware of your surroundings.
Book Theft
One
of the major expenses of attending the University is the cost of textbooks.
According to the CCSU Bookstore, the average student spends $250-$300 per
semester on textbooks. And, because textbooks may be re-sold for cash they
make an attractive target for thieves.
Throughout
the year the University Police receive many complaints of book theft,
especially at the beginning and end of the semester and around the holidays.
The University Police Department offers you several tips that will help reduce
your chances of being a victim of book theft.
As soon as you can, write your name on the
inside cover of the books. Also,
put identifying marks on several pages of the books, e.g. your driver’s
license number on the same pages of each book you own.
This will make your books less marketable and help the police
identify them if they are stolen.
Report any book thefts to the CCSU
Bookstore and the University Police as soon as possible.
Reduce the chances of theft by never
leaving books or other valuables unattended, even for a second. Use
lockers wherever possible. It only takes seconds to be "RIPPED
OFF."
Blue
Card Theft
Your use of a Blue Card has a number of advantages.
However, its ease of use also makes it an attractive target for theft.
Do not lend it to “friends” and always know where your card is.
Identity Theft
Click HERE
to access the Federal Trade Commission guide on this topic.
Alcohol
and Drugs
During
your years at Central Connecticut you will be exposed to life's many aspects
from within the classroom to the after hours scene. Parties are as much a part
of the university experience as are your studies. During this period you may
come in contact with alcohol and/or drugs. Like everything else, there are
things you must consider.
Drugs
are not only dangerous, but may also find you in difficulty on campus or even
under arrest. The University has
strict prohibitions with regard to illegal drugs. These prohibitions are
listed in the student handbook, but in general may include dismissal from the
University and/or dismissal from residence halls.
Also, the police make no exceptions to the law simply because of your
status as a student. The
University Police, other police departments operating on campus or specialized
undercover units will enforce state and federal narcotics laws.
With
respect to alcohol use, you must consider the potential for injury (your
injury or another persons injury) if you are Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).
If a police officer stops you while you are operating a motor vehicle and the
officer believes that you are under the influence of intoxicating liquor
and/or drugs he or she will ask you to perform a series of field sobriety
tests. If you fail these tests, the officer will place you under arrest for
DWI and have your vehicle towed. You will then be transported to the Police
Department an officer will ask you to submit to a blood alcohol content (BAC)
test. The penalty for failure to submit to the BAC test is the suspension of
your driver's license for SIX months. If you do submit to the BAC test and the
results are between .07 and below .10 you will be charged with Driving While
Impaired. If the test results are .10 or above you will be charged with
Driving While Intoxicated. Your license will then be revoked for 24 hours, and
you will be issued a 35-day temporary license. At the end of this period (36th
day) your driver's license may be suspended for 90 days (longer if you have a
previous DWI arrest conviction.
You
can also lose your license in the State of Connecticut if a police officer
finds alcohol (opened or not) in the vehicle that you are operating and you
are under the age of 21. The officer may issue you a summons to appear at a
hearing at the Department of Motor Vehicles. If you are found guilty your
driver's license may be suspended for a period of no more than 60 days.
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