Safety and Security - University Housing

Residence hall staff members work with the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and residents to identify and resolve security problems. Your safety and security starts with you. Crime prevention strategies are learned behaviors. Safe behaviors learned at college will serve you well now, as well as when you set up households of your own. We urge you to practice safety precautions as soon as you move in!

Remember

Treat Your Hall Like You Would Your Apartment or House
Do not let people into your hall or complex unless you know them. Remember that residents are responsible and accountable for the conduct not only of themselves but also of their guests. If someone is here to visit a resident, only that resident should be allowing access into the residence halls. You wouldn't want someone letting an unwelcome guest into your house, so please give your neighbors the same courtesy.

Tips on how to say "no" to unaccompanied/unescorted persons:

Be polite and courteous.
Be firm.
Point the person in the direction of the call box and explain how to use it.
If the person forgot the room owner's phone number, point the person in the direction of the Area Desk for assistance or call the campus operator at 6-1000.
If you see someone suspicious, do not be confrontational, instead call DPS or contact a Resident Assistant.
If you experience difficulties with a stranger tell a Resident Assistant or a DPS officer.

Campus Security: A Shared Responsibility

The University Provides:

One-way peepholes in each resident room door
Doors that lock to all rooms and halls
Security through the Department of Public Safety (DPS)
- DPS provides patrol services to the campus 24/7, utilizing commissioned public safety officers
- A public safety officer routinely patrols the residence halls with staff members and students
- DPS offers free self-defense classes for women
Student patrols (students hired and trained by DPS who patrol outside the residence halls) equipped with two-way radios so that they can stay in touch with the DPS
Official name tags for the University Housing maintenance staff members
Lighting surveys at night to assess illumination levels on campus and improve lighting
Trimming of shrubs and trees around buildings for more visibility
Campus telephones at the entrance of each residence hall
Emergency call boxes (pdf 1.2mb) located throughout the campus
Safety and security awareness programs in residence halls, as well as for other university populations
Opportunities for students to restrict their campus directory information
A shuttle service during limited evening hours, 7:00 p.m. to midnight, Sunday through Thursday, and 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., Friday through Saturday. For reservation requests, students can call (541) 346-RIDE, ext. 2, or AOL Instant Message APShuttle. Any person who feels threatened can contact the DPS for assistance
Trained staff members living in each residence hall
Resident Assistants (RAs) who are on duty from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. weekdays and twenty-four hours a day on weekends
Complex Directors (CDs) are on duty 24/7
The main housing office is an available safety resource from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays
DPS officers who perform rounds with student staff members on weekdays and weekend

You Are Expected To:

Lock room doors at night, when asleep, or whenever out of the room
Refrain from propping open building doors
Refrain from allowing strangers into residence halls
Travel with others when going to remote areas of buildings or traveling on campus at night
Report suspicious activity or people to the Department of Public Safety (541) 346-6666 (emergencies) or (541) 346-5444 (non-emergencies), or to residence hall staff members immediately
Report crime immediately
Report lost keys immediately so room lock changes can be made if necessary
Not lend keys or ID to anyone
Make responsible decisions concerning alcohol and other drugs
Be of legal age and responsible should they choose to consume alcohol. If you are intoxicated, you are incapable of protecting yourself
Always ask who the person is and look out of the one-way peephole before answering the door
Take appropriate steps to secure personal property such as bikes, cars, jewelry, cash, or electronic equipment
Remove opportunities for crime by being informed, alert, and conscientious community members
Read, understand, and abide by the Residence Hall Rules and Regulations, including fire safety regulations
Provide input to the university about how the campus can be made safer
Cooperate with university and police officials when they are investigating suspicious activity or criminal incidents
Make sure they have fire/theft insurance, either through their parent's home-owners insurance, or through renter's insurance

Life Safety

Pull Alarm to evacuate building.
Report fire location to Department of Public Safety by dialing (541)346-6666.

Pulling the fire alarm automatically calls Eugene Fire Department.

A false alarm is unlawful in the Eugene City Code with penalties up to 100 days imprisonment and/or $500 fine. The University Housing Department offers a $100 reward to anyone supplying information which leads to the arrest and conviction of a person causing a false alarm or tampering with fire safety equipment.

Smoke Detector

Test the detector weekly by holding the test switch button in for up to 10 seconds until the alarm sounds. The alarm may not sound immediately when you press the button.
If the power-on indicator light on the cover glows red, the detector is receiving power.
Notify your RA or the area desk if the indicator light is not glowing or the alarm does not sound.
Alternate devices for the hearing impaired are available upon written request to University Housing.

City of Eugene regulations require University Housing to provide a smoke detector in each sleeping room and to service the detector each year.

The resident is responsible for the periodic testing of the detector and for reporting any malfunction in writing to University Housing.