The residence hall staff, as well as The University of Iowa Police, take many steps to promote
the safety of residents. As with any security system, all building residents play a significant role in
ensuring their own safety. Listed below are suggested safety guidelines as well as University
Housing & Dining policies we expect you to abide by.
Maintain a Safe Environment Residence halls are adult living environments where students receive
limited supervision. Each resident is expected to do his or her part to help create a positive
residence hall environment. Any action which jeopardizes the safety of other residents, such as
discharging fire extinguishers when there is no fire, propping doors open that are intended to
be locked, loaning room keys or ID cards to anyone, taking screens out of windows, or
committing acts of vandalism which lead to unsafe conditions will not be tolerated. If you feel
that an unsafe condition has been created in your hall, immediately notify a resident assistant
or your building desk.
Lock Your Student Room Door The most important precaution you can take to maintain security in your hall is to lock
your room door when you leave and when you are asleep. In almost every case, a locked door
will be enough to deter any would-be thief from entering your room.
Never Lend Your Key or Student ID to Others Although you may believe that you are doing a friend a favor by lending your key or
student ID, non-residents do not have the same commitment to maintaining safety in the hall
that residents do. Additionally, you should never lend your key or ID card to other residents.
Those who lend their keys or ID cards to others may face disciplinary action.
Nite Ride The University of Iowa’s Nite Ride program offers women free, safe rides home. UI Police
will transport women from a designated pickup point to their residence halls. To arrange for
transportation, women call (319) 384-1111, the cell number for the van driver. The van is
driven by a fully uniformed, full-time UI Department of Public Safety guard. The van is clearly
marked with magnetic signs saying Nite Ride and bearing the UI Police patch and the phone
number.
For more information see http://www.uiowa.edu/~pubsfty/nite.htm.
Report Unescorted/Suspicious Strangers in Your Hall If you see an unescorted/suspicious person that you do not recognize, ask a resident
assistant or another residence hall staff member to confront the stranger. If you have reason
to believe that the person poses an immediate threat to hall security, phone University of Iowa
Police at 335-5022, then immediately contact the nearest residence hall staff member.
Lock Shower and Toilet Room Doors Toilet and shower room facilities are equipped with locks for all residents' protection. Your
room key will only open the shower/toilet room on your corridor/floor. You can help keep
yourself and your neighbors safe by keeping the door locked at all times.
The Use of Cameras/Video University Housing & Dining uses video surveillance in public areas, at entrances, and in
hallways as a means to monitor the safety and security of the residents. Students will not be
notified of exact camera location.
Satellite Dishes, Antennas, and Radio Transmissions
Outside antennas and satellite dishes of any type are also not allowed and will be removed immediately. The distribution or receipt of radio transmission of any type (including amateur radio or police scanners) is not permitted in the residence halls.
Sexual Harassment
The University of Iowa prohibits sexual misconduct in any form, including sexual assault or
sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and any form of nonconsensual sexual conduct. Students should
be able to live, study, and work in an environment free from all forms of sexual misconduct. Any
act that falls within the definition of sexual misconduct constitutes a violation of University policy.
The University is committed to fostering a campus environment that both promotes and
expedites prompt reporting of sexual misconduct and timely and fair adjudication of sexual
misconduct cases. The University's procedures are designed to protect the rights, needs, and
privacy of the student making a University complaint, as well as the rights of students accused of
sexual misconduct. The University also adheres to all federal, state, and local requirements for
intervention, crime reporting, and privacy provisions related to sexual misconduct.
Sexual misconduct can be committed by men or women, and it can occur between people
of the same or different sex. The University will make this policy and educational opportunities
readily available to all students and other members of the University community. Creating a
respectful, safe, and non-threatening environment is the responsibility of all members of the
University community.
The University of Iowa will make every effort to safeguard the identities of students who
seek help and/or report sexual misconduct. While steps are taken to protect the privacy of victims,
the University may need to investigate an incident and take action once an allegation is known,
whether or not the student chooses to pursue a complaint.
Formal complaints about sexual misconduct by University students, faculty, or staff should
be made to the UI Sexual Misconduct Response Coordinator (319-335-6200). No employee is
authorized to investigate or resolve student complaints without the involvement of the Sexual
Misconduct Response Coordinator.
In addition to violating University policy, sexual misconduct might also constitute criminal
activity. Students are strongly encouraged to inform law enforcement authorities about
instances of sexual misconduct. The chances of a successful criminal investigation are
greatly enhanced if evidence is collected and maintained immediately by law
enforcement officers. Students may inform law enforcement authorities about sexual misconduct
and discuss the matter with a law enforcement officer without making a formal criminal complaint
or a formal University complaint.
Assistance in reporting any form of sexual misconduct to the proper law enforcement
authorities is available to any student upon request from a certified victim advocate at RVAP or
from the Sexual Misconduct Response Coordinator.
Sharps Disposal
Do not dispose of sharps (any medical wastes with needles, syringes, lances, or other sharp
pointed ends) in the trash. Contact your front desk to obtain a Sharps Disposal Container.
Sinks
Every student room has a sink. For the safety of students and maintenance personnel, do not
use drain cleaners in any residence hall sinks. Go to your front desk to report a clogged drain.
The house mechanic will attempt to retrieve contact lenses and jewelry from lavatory drains
during regular working hours. Go to your front desk to arrange for this assistance. There will be
a charge for any non-emergency assistance needed after regular working hours. Do not put potting
soil, food, or aquarium rocks down drains.
Smoke Detectors/Sprinklers
Room and hallway smoke detectors should not be removed or disabled for any reason. Smoke
detectors are sensitive to airborne particles such as hair spray. Intentional or accidental activation
of or tampering with any fire detection device may result in disciplinary action and/or paying for
associated repair costs. Any problem with a smoke detector should be reported to your front
desk. Do not hang items from sprinkler head and/or fire detection/fighting equipment.
Smoking
The University of Iowa is a smoke free campus. Therefore the use of tobacco,
including smokeless tobacco products, and legal smoking products are prohibited in
all campus buildings including residence halls. Students over 18 years of age may possess and are
allowed to store tobacco and legal smoking products but may not use them in the halls. Under the
Smoke Free Air Act, smoking is banned on the entire University of Iowa campus.
Solicitation Policy
Your residence hall contract states, "No resident is to use his or her room or permit it to be
used for any commercial purpose, except for incidental commercial use such as the receipt of
telephone solicitations of sales orders. Commercial soliciting in the building or on the grounds is
forbidden."
Residence hall student room computer data ports are for University-related activities only.
Subscribers may not conduct a commercial business via residence hall computer data ports.
In addition, the University Housing & Dining views the residence hall as your home and is
therefore very protective of your privacy. The Department has established detailed guidelines for
distribution of information to you. The Solicitation Policy includes regulations on bulletin boards,
physical distribution of material, distribution centers, tables at dining entrances, table tents, and
mailboxes. If you would like a copy of this policy, contact either your area coordinator or the
assistant to the director of University Housing & Dining, 4141 Burge Hall.
In order to help us protect your living environment, please report any violations of solicitation
in the building (including door-to-door sales) to the front desk immediately.
Sporting Equipment Use
The residence halls are not designed for athletic events to occur within the buildings. You may
not use rollerblades, rollerskates, or skateboards in the residence halls. Also, frisbees, footballs,
basketballs, etc., may not be thrown or bounced in the buildings.
Staff On Call
If your RA is unavailable, staff members are on call 24 hours a day for general assistance, maintenance, and emergencies. Contact your front desk.
Students are encouraged to comply with reasonable requests from residence hall staff
performing their duties. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action. If a student feels that
they are treated unfairly by a staff member they should contact the Office of Residence Life, 260
Stanley Hall.
Storage
The University Housing will not store any personal items of residents. All University furniture provided when students check in must remain in the student's room.
Study Areas
There are designated areas for quiet study located in all buildings, and some of these areas are available on a 24-hour basis. Contact your RA or front desk for more information.
Substance-Free Housing
The University of Iowa Residence Halls are substance-free environments. The possession and
use of alcohol and illegal drugs and the use of smoking products are prohibited in the residence
halls. Being in the presence of alcohol or illegal drugs is also a violation of University Housing &
Dining policy. Alcohol possession and consumption in the residence halls are not allowed even if a
student is 21 or older. Students over 18 years of age may possess and are allowed to store tobacco
and legal smoking products but may not use them in the halls. See pages 31 and 32 for the alcohol
and drug policies, and page 33 for the smoking policy. Students wishing to live in an area where
other’s use of alcohol/drugs will not interfere with their living should look into the Healthy Living
Network Living Learning Community Floors.
