Campus Security Policy

INTRODUCTION

The community that is Mountain State University (MSU) consists of approximately 2500 students, faculty, and staff. MSU’s academic and administrative buildings are located on South Kanawha Street and Minnesota Avenue within the city limits of Beckley, WV, which has a population of approximately 21,000 residents. As part of the City of Beckley, the University shares many of the same interests and concerns, one of which is providing a safe environment for its students, faculty, and staff. As safety and security is everyone’s responsibility, your actions and behavior can significantly reduce your risk.

At MSU, we understand the concern everyone feels about campus safety. Our desire is for students, faculty, and staff to enjoy their academic years free from threats to their safety or well-being. The purpose of this publication is to share with you information relating to the safety and security of campus facilities, the offices involved in the coordination of campus safety and security, campus crime statistics, campus substance abuse policies, campus sexual assault policies, and referral services. This report is provided in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.

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REPORTING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND CONCERN

Security at MSU is a coordinated effort among the Director of Campus Safety (ext. 1655); the Director of Student Affairs & Campus Life (ext. 1434); and Manager of Housing & Residence Life (ext. 1474). The Campus Safety staff is on duty around the clock, every day to respond to emergency and non-emergency issues. In the event of an emergency situation, or if you perceive a situation to be dangerous, please call 911 immediately (9-911 from any campus extension). The Beckley Police Department, Beckley Fire Department, and local ambulance service are all located within a mile of campus.

Anyone may report violations of University policy or standards of behavior by completing an incident report form. This form is available from the Office of Director of Student Affairs & Campus Life, the Manager of Housing & Residence Life, or the Director of Campus Safety. All incident reports are investigated and maintained by these same listed offices. For more minor incidents pertaining to campus policy, any manager, director, senior academic officer or executive officer may serve as an initial hearing officer. Procedures for appealing the decision of the initial hearing officer may be found online at http://www.mountainstate.edu/policies/appeals.aspx.

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SECURITY OF AND ACCESS TO CAMPUS FACILITIES

Most University facilities are open to the public during day and evening hours, Monday-Friday.  The Learning Resource Center, Cougar Den, and the residence hall have weekend hours.  On weekends and Federal Holidays, most University facilities are closed and locked, admitting only faculty, staff, and/or others with proper authorization.

MSU owns several parking areas near and adjacent to campus.  These lots are routinely patrolled during the day, evening, and overnight by Campus Safety Officers.  The University strives to ensure adequate patrolling and lighting in these areas.

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CAMPUS LAW ENFORCEMENT

Campus Safety personnel are present on campus during days and evenings both when classes are and are not in session. These staff members are not armed. They do, however, carry portable phones from which they can place or receive calls, coordinate campus alerts, and/or respond to campus emergencies. Within seconds, they are able to place emergency calls to the Beckley Emergency Operations Center or the Beckley Police Department.

It is the duty of each of us to help keep our campus safe and to report violations of law or policy or suspicious activities to the appropriate personnel.

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SAFETY EDUCATION AND INFORMATION

At MSU, we make diligent efforts to educate the campus community about campus security procedures and practices. Part of that education is to encourage students and employees to be responsible for their own security and the security of others.

Several times over the course of each semester, MSU will sponsor programs on personal safety and security procedures and practices (e.g. sexual assault and/or harassment, fire alarms, and how to avoid being the victim of a crime). While some of these programs are workshops, fire drills are also performed, and promotional material is periodically distributed.

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CAMPUS CRIME STATISTICS

The following statistics reflect the number of crimes reported and referrals made at MSU for the past three calendar years (2001-2003). Crime Statistics Chart

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MONITORING STUDENT ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR

Student organizations are an integral part of a university experience. As such, MSU recognizes a need to monitor the safety and security of such organizations both on and off campus, to the extent possible. All recognized student organ-izations at MSU are campus-based. Off-campus student organizations are not recognized, and there are no recognized student organizations with off-campus residence facilities. It is University policy that at least one advisor (a full time faculty or staff member) must be present during any activity held off-campus by a recognized student organization. During off-campus functions by recognized student organizations, the same University policies and procedures pertaining to student behavior and responsibilities apply as they would on campus.

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ALCOHOL AND ILLEGAL DRUGS

MSU is responsible for maintaining high standard in the classroom and in the activities outside the classroom. All University rules, regulations and guidelines must comply with State laws. The legal age in West Virginia for purchasing alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer is 21. All members of the campus community are expected to obey the law and be responsible for their conduct. Students are not allowed to bring alcoholic beverages on University property, with the exception of residence hall occupants, who are of legal age, for consumption in their room only.

Students are not to possess, use, manufacture, or traffic in any substance illegal under state or federal law or to use controlled substances illegally. MSU absolutely prohibits the use, consumption, sale, purchase, transfer or possession of any controlled substance by any member of the campus community in class or while in attendance at MSU sponsored activities.

In addition, students are strictly prohibited from being under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance while attending MSU sponsored training sessions or meetings. Legally prescribed medications are excluded from this prohibition and permitted only to the extent that the use of such medications does not adversely affect the student’s safety and/or the safety of others. Any student who violates this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action, which may include referral for drug and alcohol counseling and/or treatment, up to and including expulsion. Alcohol and drug awareness seminars and activities are offered every academic year, as a part of MSU’s ongoing wellness program.

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SEXUAL ASSAULT

Victims of any sexual offense occurring on University owned or controlled properties should immediately report the incident to the Director of Campus Safety or the Director of Student Affairs & Campus Life. The student will be informed of their option to notify proper law enforcement authorities and, if requested, University personnel will assist the student in doing so.

It is critically important that a victim who is sexually assaulted:

1. Immediately seek medical attention.
2. Carefully preserve all physical evidence. Do not bathe or wash clothing.
3. Be willing to notify law enforcement officials of the assault and be willing to prosecute.

Upon the student’s request, MSU will make reasonable effort to change a victim’s academic and living situations after an alleged sexual assault incident.

Regarding disciplinary action in cases involving sexual offenses, the accuser and the accused have the same opportunity of having others present during disciplinary proceedings. Both the accuser and the accused shall be informed of the outcome of any institutional disciplinary proceeding and any sanction that is imposed against the accused. Sanctions imposed upon final determination of an on-campus disciplinary procedure regarding rape, acquaintance rape, or other sexual offense (forcible or non-forcible) may include a formal warning, probation, suspension, or expulsion.

Each academic year, MSU will offer on-campus personal safety, rape prevention, dating violence seminars, and other safety-related seminars. A list of registered sex offenders living in the Beckley area or anywhere in West Virginia is available on the Internet through the West Virginia State Police Web site at http://www.wvstatepolice.com.

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REFERRAL SERVICES

For members of the campus community who may have been a victim of sexual offense, who have substance abuse problems, or other issues which may require professional counseling or assistance, the following is a partial listing of facilities which provide professional, personal, and family counseling:

Other qualified counseling professionals or organizations are provided in the Yellow Pages of the Verizon Telephone Directory.

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DISCLOSURE OF CAMPUS CRIME STATSTICS

Students, staff, and/or faculty members may report criminal actions or other emergencies by contacting the MSU Safety Director (ext 1655), or by contacting the Beckley Police Department directly.

For the purpose of compiling institutional data regarding crime statistics, records are compiled from the Manager of Housing and Residence Life, the Director of Student Affairs and Campus Life, the Director of Campus Safety, contact person at MSU satellite campuses, and the Beckley Police Department. Reports of criminal activity may be made anonymously by contacting the Director of Student Affairs & Campus Life or the MSU Safety Director.