Campus Safety and Security:

The safety and security of members of the Manchester College community and their guests are a primary concern of the College and a principal responsibility of the Department of Campus Safety.  A fully trained officer is on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, supplemented by student safety staff.  Officers patrol the campus and are charged with the enforcement of federal, state, and local laws, as well as College policies and regulations.  Although campus officers do not make arrests, the Department of Campus Safety maintains a close working relationship with the North Manchester Police Department and other agencies.

Crime Reporting:

     Students, faculty, staff, and guests of the College are encouraged to report emergencies and criminal activities to the safety office.  Telephones are available in every campus building and outside emergency phones are strategically placed at several locations on campus.  To report an emergency or criminal activity, dial 260-982-5999, and an officer will take a report and follow up on your information.  You do not have to leave your name unless you want to be contacted.                                   

Officers work closely with residence hall and athletic staff, as well as pastoral and professional counselors, to assist victims in reporting crimes, and to ensure the accurate disclosure of all crime statistics.  Victims desiring criminal prosecution are encouraged and assisted by campus safety personnel.  From the filing of the initial report, through the follow-up investigation, campus safety personnel work closely with local police agencies and the Prosecutor's Office.

Crime Statistics

The procedures for preparing the annual disclosure of crime statistics include reporting statistics to the campus community obtained from both law enforcement and non-law enforcement sources.  Local law enforcement agencies, including the North Manchester Police Department, the Wabash County Sheriff's Department, the Indiana State Police, and the Indiana State Excise Police, provide the director of campus safety with information pertaining to criminal acts and arrest that occur on or adjacent to College property.  Crime statistics/reports are also obtained from the vice president of student development, conduct system coordinator, residential life staff members, athletic staff, and other members of College community.  For statistical purposes, crime statistics reported to any of these sources are recorded in the calendar year the crime was reported.  All of the statistics are gathered, compiled, and reported to the College community via the annual safety and security brochure, which is prepared by the Department of Campus Safety.

• Crime Statistics - Calendar Year 2005
• Crime Statistics - Calendar Year 2006
• Crime Statistics - Calendar Year 2007
• Other Incidents Reported to Campus Safety 2007

Crime Alerts

As required by the Clery Act, the Department of Campus Safety posts crime alerts following the reporting of all serious crimes, when there exists a continued threat to student, employees, or others.  These alert may be posted in prominent locations campus wide and/or distributed to student, staff and faculty via e-mail announcements.  This is done in a manner that is both timely and informative to aid in the prevention of similar crimes.  Information may be temporarily withheld if the release of such information would jeopardize an ongoing investigation, a person's safety, cause a suspect to flee or evade detection, or result in the destruction of evidence.

Public Crime Log

In accordance with the provisions of the Higher Education Act of 1998, the Department of Campus Safety maintains a public crime log containing the following information for each crime reported: crime classification, date and time of offense, location of offense, and the disposition of the complaint. As per the federal requirement, this information will be made available within two (2) business days from the occurrence of the crime. The Department of Campus Safety will update this log on a daily basis. To review the log, simply stop by the safety office between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or select the year you wish to view from the menu below.

 

Public Crime Log by Year

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Weapons Policy
 

Possession and/or use of firearms, ammunition, or other weapons, including any dangerous article or substance with the potential to injure or discomfit a person, is prohibited. For further information, refer to the policy section of the student handbook.

Drug and Alcohol Policies

Campus policies prohibit the possession, sale or transfer of alcoholic beverages on College property or in College-owned vehicles. Possession, use, storage, sale or transfer of illegal drugs and/or drug paraphernalia is also strictly prohibited. These policies and all Federal and State laws, including underage drinking laws, are rigorously enforced and violators are subject to suspension and the case may be referred for criminal prosecution.

Refer to the student handbook for further details of drug and alcohol policies. Policies and procedures dealing with Manchester College’s commitment to a drug-free environment are provided in this publication as well as The Staff Employment Handbook.

Crime Prevention Efforts

The Department of Campus Safety, in cooperation with other College departments, works to educate the campus community on a sound safety practices.  Safety and security related topics are a part of programs planned for residents and hall staff throughout the year.  The Department of Campus Safety sponsors annual crime prevention programs to student groups and resident students, including presentations on how to avoid becoming crime victim, and self-defense programs presented by campus safety and other personnel.  Other programs/presentations include drug and alcohol abuse education seminars, theft prevention, identity theft, etc.  Programs and videos are also available upon request for all campus groups.
 

Sexual Assault/ Rape Awareness, Education and Prevention

Manchester College is committed to education, prevention, and prosecution of sexual assault.  While statistics for the occurrence of officially reported cases of sexual assault are low, additional incidents, which victims choose not to report officially, do occur.  The College is committed to reducing and eliminating all incidents of attempted or actual unwanted sexual activity. 

The information below outlines the elements of the sexual assault prevention/education program, procedures to be followed in cases of sexual assault, options for reporting sexual assault, procedures and sanctions for on-campus disciplinary action in cases of sexual assault, and available support services for victims. 

Sexual assault prevention and education at Manchester College are provided within several College programs.  Through incorporating information on personal security, sexual assault, and prevention of sexual assault into a variety of existing programs, it is intended that students will be exposed to such information throughout their college careers.  The primary means used to convey information regarding personal security and sexual assault are as follows:

        A.  Summer Advising and Registration: Safety and Security issues are discussed with incoming new students and their parents during question-and-answer sessions.  Additionally, new students and  parents are also provided with written information regarding security issues on campus.

        B.  Fall Orientation: Student are instructed on the location and effective use of the campus blue-light emergency phone stations.  Information is provided to Student Orientation Leaders (SOLs) and Resident Assistants (RAs) concerning sexual assault prevention and reporting, and that information is conveyed to students via SOL group meetings and residence hall meetings/programs.  Students are informed that sexual assault is a violation of campus policy, as well as criminal law, are encouraged to report any incidents, and are informed regarding reporting and support resources in case of an incident (members of residence hall staff, safety staff, health services staff or counseling staff).  Discussion of the information is facilitated in small groups, led by trained upper-class students, to ensure understanding.  Issues of sexual assault are also raised in group sessions focused on campus policies. 

         C.  Campus Programs: Through Student Development seminars and residence hall-sponsored programs, students are offered opportunities throughout the academic year to attend workshops on topics such as self-defense and sexual assault prevention, dating violence, risks related to alcohol and healthy decision-making.  Presenters typically include information about reporting options, preserving evidence, and getting personal support and counseling.

        D.  Residence Hall Staff Training: Because the undergraduate and professional residence hall staff are in close daily contact with the majority of students, it is likely that they will receive reports of sexual assault.  Information on dealing with victims, reporting options, preserving evidence, and counseling resources is included in their training.

Procedures in Cases of Sexual Assault

Victims of any form of sexual assault should report the incident immediately; quick reporting increases the probability that the alleged perpetrator can be held responsible.  In cases of rape, acquaintance rape, or other sex offenses involving sexual contact, the victim should take steps to preserve evidence as it may be necessary to the proof of criminal sexual assault.  This means that the victim should not change clothes, wash or bathe, or attempt to “clean up”; the physical condition of the victim is important evidence.  Instead, the victim should immediately contact a Campus Safety officer, member of the health services staff, member of the residence hall staff, member of the counseling or student development staff, or if she/he prefers, the local police.  These individuals will assist the victim to contact the appropriate authorities (in accord with the victim’s wishes), have evidence collected, and secure appropriate medical care.

Options for Reporting Sexual Assault

Incidents of sexual assault may be reported through a variety of means; it is important that victims are aware of all options available to them and are free to choose among them.

Sexual assault is a criminal violation; as such, a victim may choose to report it to the local law enforcement authorities and pursue prosecution through the public court system.

Sexual assault is also a violation of College policy; therefore, a victim may also choose to report it to College authorities and to pursue prosecution through the student conduct review system.  This choice is available and recommended whether or not the victim chooses to prosecute off-campus.

In either case, members of the campus security staff, counseling staff, and Student Development staff will assist victims in exploring options and in filing and pursuing charges against the accused.

Procedures and Sanctions for On-campus Disciplinary Actions

If a victim chooses to pursue charges through the student conduct review system, she/he should file charges using the standard complaint system.  Assistance with this process is available from the persons listed above, as well as the residence hall staff and the director of residential life.

The Manchester College Student Conduct Review System Statement of Rights, which applies to all cases brought before the conduct system, states that a “person appearing before a college hearing body has the right to be assisted in his/her defense by an advisor of his/her choice, but such advisor may not testify on behalf of the defendant.” Complainants similarly have the right to have others present during the proceedings.  Both parties also have the right to bring witnesses.  Both the accuser and the accused will be informed of the outcome of any campus disciplinary proceedings.

Possible sanctions resulting from an on-campus disciplinary procedure concerning rape, acquaintance, rape, or other sex offenses are outlined in the Sanctions Guidelines used by College hearing bodies.  Because these offenses constitute a violation of both state and federal law and the campus policy related to physical/verbal abuse, harassment, provocation, and fighting (which includes “physical and/or verbal acts of assault, battery, abuse, harassment, humiliation, provocation, and threat to do bodily harm”), they are defined as major complaints.  Applicable sanctions range from fines and disciplinary probation to separation from the College.  Additional forms of redress available include mediation, counseling, and other educational interventions.

Support Services for Victims of Sexual Assault

Members of the College counseling staff are available to provide counseling and support to victims of sexual assault.  The director of health services is also available to provide information on health-related concerns.  If a victim of sexual assault prefers to obtain counseling off-campus, members of the College Counseling staff will assist in identifying an appropriate and satisfactory referral resource.

The College is committed to insuring that the campus environment remains a positive one for the victim.  Therefore, if a victim requests changes in academic and living arrangements precipitated by the offense, the College will make every effort to assist with making these changes, if such changes are reasonably available.  Assistance with exploring these options is available from members of the counseling and student development staffs.

In cases of sexual assault, the safety and protection of the victim is of primary concern to the College.  The College will take appropriate action which could include separation of the perpetrator from the College, mandatory counseling, or other sanctions depending on the nature of the incident.

Sex Offender Directory

The federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act requires institutions of higher education to issue a statement advising the campus community where law enforcement agency information provided by a State concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained. It also requires sex offenders already required to register in a state to provide notice, as required under state law, of each institution of higher education in that state at which the person is employed, carries on a vocation, or is a student.

The following excerpts are taken from the Indiana Sheriff's Sex Offender Registry website: www.state.in.us/serv/cji_sor

" Effective January 1, 2003, Zachary’s Law requires  sheriff departments to jointly establish and maintain  the Indiana Sheriff's Sex Offender Registry to provide detailed information about individuals who register as violent offenders at Indiana Sheriff departments (or, in Marion County, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department). The purpose of the registry is to inform the general public about the identity, location, and appearance of sex and violent offenders who live, work and study in Indiana.

Access to Campus Facilities

Manchester College is an open campus and is accessible to the general public. During the academic year, most academic buildings are unlocked between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Some buildings remain unlocked until later times, including the Funderburg Library computer lab, which remains open until 1 a.m., and Petersime Chapel, which remains open 24 hours a day.

During College breaks and other non-academic periods, buildings are open only during normal business hours, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Security in the Residence Halls

Professional residence hall directors and student resident assistants provide administrative and program supervision. Desk attendants supervise the main entrance of each hall during the evening hours and are in immediate telephone contact with the on-duty officer, if necessary. During the academic year, exterior doors to residence halls remain locked most of the time: however, there are times when the exterior doors need to be unlocked for various programs, including but not limited to, tours, open houses, move-in/move out days, public programs, and whenever accessibility for non-residents is needed.  Guest staying in residence hall guest rooms are provided with keys that access their own room doors, as well as exterior entrances to other halls.  During those times when exterior doors are looked, residents of the halls are responsible for providing access for their own guests. During semester breaks and other College holidays, most residence halls are secured and exterior doors are plugged to prevent any breach of security. Residents needing housing during these periods are issued a special key providing access into their residence and staff supervision, through the Office of Residential Life, is provided; and these halls are locked at all times.

Physical Plant Considerations

Members of the College community may report safety and security problems by contacting the Department of Campus Safety. The physical plant department, in consultation with the director of campus safety, maintains buildings and grounds with a concern for safety and security. Staff inspect campus facilities, making repairs and responding to reports of potential safety and security hazards.

Student/Staff Responsibility

The cooperation, involvement and personal support of students and staff is crucial to campus safety. At Manchester College, we sincerely believe that “you are the key to security.” Students and staff must assume responsibility for their own personal safety and the security of their belongings by taking simple, common sense precautions:

• Do not prop open exterior residence hall doors.

• Lock room doors even when leaving your room for short periods of time.

• Ask visitors to identify themselves before admitting them to your building or your room.

• Carry room keys at all times and never loan them to others.

• Park your vehicle in well-lighted areas and keep it locked at all times; valuables should be concealed.

• Report suspicious circumstances and unusual incidents to the
Department of Campus Safety.