Ammunition Storage
Small quantities may be stored with
Campus Safety. See your HD for details. Ammunition is prohibited in the
residence halls.
Appliances
The use of toasters and hot plates
or any open coil appliance is prohibited in residence hall rooms. Prohibited
appliances will be confiscated. George Foreman Grills and halogen lamps
are also not allowed to be used in resident rooms. Foreman Grills are
allowed to be used in the residence hall kitchen areas and must be
attended at all times.
Apartments with full
kitchens are allowed open coil appliances. Efficiency apartments
without kitchens have the same restrictions as residence hall rooms.
Clothes irons may be used in lounges and in
the laundry rooms, unless they have an auto shut-off. If you have any
question about the use of a particular electrical appliance, please ask
your RA. All small appliances, unless otherwise noted by the manufacturer,
should be unplugged when not in use.
Candles/Incense
The burning of candles or incense
is a potential fire hazard and is not permitted in the residence halls and
in the apartments.
Burned wicks must be cut.
Ceilings
Nothing may be attached to the
ceilings in Palmerton Hall. Never attempt to clean textured ceilings.
Cleaning
Occupants are responsible for cleaning their assigned room and or
apartment. Vacuum
cleaners are available for student use. Occupants who cause other than
normal soiling in common areas will be expected to clean up such messes,
for example, vomit in hallways or restrooms. At least one health and
safety inspection will be conducted each semester in each resident room/apartment
unit.
Cooking
Cooking
is not permitted in residence hall rooms. Cooking is only permitted in
apartments with kitchen facilities.
Cooking Rooms (Kitchens)
Cooking
rooms are available in each residence hall for limited food preparation.
Students may use closed-unit electric cooking appliances in these areas
(those appliances prohibited from use in resident rooms). Common area
microwaves and toasters are available for resident use. Students are
expected to maintain cooking areas in a sanitary manner. Failure to keep
cooking areas clean may result in the areas being closed for indefinite
periods of time. Bathroom sinks and shower areas are not to be used for
cleaning or washing cooking utensils or disposal of food items.
Emergency Procedures
General
emergency information is located on bulletin boards on each floor of each
residence hall and limited information is posted on the inside of each
resident room door.
Explosives/Fireworks
Explosives and fireworks are prohibited in the residence halls and the
apartments.
Flammable Liquids
Flammable liquids are prohibited in the residence halls and the apartments, including, but
not limited to, gas, oil, or similar materials.
Food Storage
Food
kept in resident rooms/apartments must be kept in closed containers for health
reasons. Food bottles and cans must not be left between the screen and the
window.
Hostile Person(s)
Procedures
If a
hostile person(s) is actively causing deadly harm or the imminent threat
of deadly harm within the residence hall or apartments, here are the
recommended procedures:
-
Lock yourself in your room.
-
If
communication is available, call 9-911 (campus phone) or 911 (non-campus
phone)
-
Stay in contact with internet, if available for situation updates
(Ensure the light from the monitor is not visible to the outside of the
room.)
-
If away from your room, join others in a room
that can be locked. If the door has no
lock and the door opens in, a good heavy door wedge can be kept on hand
and driven in as hard as you can, otherwise look for heavy furniture to
barricade the door.
-
Do
not stay in an open hall.
-
Do
not sound the fire alarm. A fire alarm would signal the occupants in
the rooms to evacuate the building and thus place them in potential harm
as they attempt to exit.
-
Barricade yourself in your room with desks, beds, or anything you can
push against the door.
-
Lock your window and close blinds or
curtains. Depending on the hostile
person(s) location, consideration may also be made to exit through
window openings. Have someone watch as you get as many students out of
the windows (ground floor) as calmly and as quietly as possible.
-
Stay away from the window.
-
Turn all lights and audio equipment off.
-
Try
to stay calm and be as quiet as possible.
-
If
you are caught in the open such as hallways and lounge areas, you must
decide what you are going to do. This is a very crucial time and can
possibly mean life or death depending on your actions.
-
You
can try to hide, but make sure it is a well-hidden space or you may be
found as the intruder moves through the building looking for more
victims.
-
If
you think you can safely make it out of the building by running, do so.
If you decide to run, do not run in a straight line. Keep any objects
you can between you and the hostile person(s) while in the building.
Once outside, do not run in a straight line.
-
If
the person(s) are causing death or serious physical injury to others and
you are unable to run or hide, you may choose to play dead if other
victims are around you.
-
The last option you have if caught in an open
area may be to fight back. This is dangerous, but depending on your
situation, this could be your last option.
Again this is not a recommendation to attack the hostile
person(s) but rather a choice to fight when there is no other option.
-
If
you are caught by the intruder and are not going to fight back, obey all
commands and do not do anything to provoke the intruder.
-
Once the police arrive, obey all commands. This may involve your being
made to put your hands in the air. This is done for safety reasons, and
once circumstances are evaluated by the police, they will give you
further directions to follow.
These safety tips and
guidelines are not all inclusive, but if understood and followed up with
periodic reminders and training when feasible, it can increase your
chances of surviving a hostile person(s) incident.
Lounges
Lounges
are intended for studying, hanging-out or watching TV. They are not
for sleeping. If you need to take a nap or sleep, then please use
your room. It is everyone's responsibility to keep the lounges and
other public areas clean. Please be sure your trash is put in a
trash receptacle and that if you move furniture around that you put it
back where it belongs.
Microwaves
Microwaves are prohibited in Palmerton Hall and Connolly Hall resident
rooms, except as part of a Microfridge unit. One small size microwave per
room is allowed in Peterson Hall and in the apartments.
Motor Vehicles
Repair,
painting or cleaning of motor vehicles is not permitted in the residence
halls. Heating devices may not be connected from vehicles to any residence
hall outlet.
Pets (Animals)
Pets
(animals) are not allowed in the residence halls or the apartments with the exception of
small aquarium-sized fish or other approved aquatic life (aquatic life =
animals that sustain life in water, not on land). Fish tanks must be smaller than 10 gallons.
Talk with your HD or apartment manager to get approval for other aquatic life.
Radio Transmitters
Radio
transmitters drawing in excess of 100 watts or involving outside antennas
may not be used in the residence halls. Operation and licensing must
conform to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and Regulations.
Transmitter operation must not interfere with other licensed stations, nor
interfere with reception in the residence halls. Outside antennas of any
kind are not to be used in the residence halls.
Refrigerators
Only small-unit refrigerators (6 cubic foot
or less) may be used. Limit of one per resident in the residence halls. A limited number of
compact refrigerators and micro-fridge units are available for rent from
Residence Life.
Fridge
size is limited to typical dorm size fridges - approx. 3.0 to 4.0 cubic
feet (some companies make compact fridges that are 6.0 cubic feet). These
fridges are usually 2-3 feet tall.
Apartment units have refrigerators provided. Additional fridges are
not allowed.
Trash/Refuse Removal
Refuse
or trash should be removed from your room on a regular basis. Large
dumpsters are available near the halls and the apartments. Take your refuse directly to a
dumpster regularly. Do not leave trash bags in hallways or lounges or
other public use areas.
Security
Security demands that students lock their
rooms/apartments when away. The university is not responsible for money or other
valuables/items stolen from rooms. Always report any lost or stolen items
and suspicious person to your HD or campus safety at x6100 immediately.
Weapons
Dangerous/Deadly Weapons are prohibited in the residence halls and the
apartments. South
Dakota Codified Law (SDCL) 22-1-2(10) defines such weapons, and reads as
follows:
“Dangerous weapon” or “deadly weapon” (is) any
firearm, knife or device, instrument, material or substance, whether
animate or inanimate, which is calculated or designed to inflict death or
serious bodily harm, or by the manner in which it is used is likely to
inflict death or serious bodily harm.
Such weapons will be surrendered to Campus
Safety for secure storage. When removed from storage, they must be taken
from campus immediately. They must never be taken to a residence hall
room or apartment building. Due to limited secure storage space, Residence Life and Campus
Safety retain the authority to refuse to store weapons. Students storing
weapons with Campus Safety must sign and abide by the Weapons Storage
Agreement.
Windows/Screens
Residence hall and apartment windows must be kept clear of drawings, pictures, signs,
lettering, bottles, cans, etc. unless the HD or Director of Residence Life
has given approval.
The unauthorized removal of windows and
screens from any residence hall window will result in appropriate
disciplinary action being taken. Windows must be in place and operative so
that they may be closed to help contain fire if such an emergency
situation occurred. Screens must remain in place, particularly during
warmer weather to reduce the number of insects entering the building.
Screens also prevent drafts from blinds that can be blown through the
opening when a screen has been removed.
Nothing must ever be thrown from any window.
Entrance or egress through a residence hall window is prohibited.
Window air conditioning units are prohibited
in the residence halls. Air conditioners are allowed in the
apartment units, please coordinate installation with your apartment
manager.
