Promoting and Maintaining a Secure Environment
Compiled by the Dean of Students Office
Carthage College, Kenosha, Wisconsin 53140-1994
Phone 262.551.5800/Fax 262.551.5989
Fall 2009
Carthage is committed to maintaining a safe campus. This document presents the College policies and procedures designed to create and maintain a safe, collegial environment. The College believes that maintaining a safe campus results from an informed and educated community. The information herein promotes a safe living and working environment educating and informing members of the Carthage community about the nature and frequency of criminal acts on campus. This brochure is prepared and distributed in compliance with The Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990. Questions should be directed to the Dean of Students Office at Carthage. Similar to many other small, private colleges, Carthage generally has been free from the threat of many types of crimes. The College's location, unlike that of many larger and urban schools, is a component of campus safety. While violent crimes are infrequent, the institution and all members of the community must collectively accept responsibility to be aware of the potential for crime and to cooperate to reduce risks where they may exist. Beginning with campus awareness programs at the start of each academic year and continuing throughout the time that students are at Carthage, the professional staff of the Dean of Students Office is committed to educating the student body about personal safety. Educational programs occur monthly in each residence hall and in the Todd Wehr Center on a variety of social topics, including responsibilities of communal living, crime prevention, state and federal laws governing alcohol and drug possession, the pharmacological effects of alcohol and other drugs, and the procedures for reporting crimes.
Carthage encourages all members of the community to report the occurrence or the suspected occurrence of criminal activity to professional staff of the College. Information Reports are available from all Residence Life staff members, Campus Security, and in the Dean of Students Office in the Todd Wehr Center. In a situation where a threat to personal safety exists or where time is of the essence, a verbal report should be made to any member of the Residence Life staff, Carthage Campus Security, or the Kenosha Police Department. Timely warning reports to members of the community will be made in the occurrence of crimes for which there is a reporting obligation. In a non-emergency or non-threatening situation, any member of the community may file an Information Report with any member of the Dean of Students staff and/or Campus Security. There are no policies or procedures that allow victims or witnesses of a crime to report those crimes on a confidential basis. The report of a violation of Carthage policy will be investigated according to the procedures set forth in the Student Community Code. Students are encouraged to report violations of law to the local police as well as to the Campus authorities. The Dean of Students Office makes the initial investigation of all Information Reports that may result in, or lead to, disciplinary action. The initial investigation and disciplinary decisions may be made on the evidence presented, despite the student's absence in cases where the student elects not to be present. Normally, a student will be notified of the alleged violations of policy and will be given 24 hours to respond to an initial investigation request. The time period for the investigation and the appeals process may be shortened to allow an expedient response near the end of an academic term or in a potentially dangerous situation. The Dean of Students and/or the Associate Dean of Students reserve the right at any time to immediately suspend a student from the campus, pending the conclusion of the judicial process. Following the investigation, the Dean of Students Office shall determine either that the accusation has no merit or that a violation has occurred and disciplinary proceedings are required. Sanctions for violations of policy will be consistent with the disciplinary procedures set forth in the Student Community Code.
Report all Crimes and violations of policy to the Dean of Students Office or to Campus Security.
| Campus Security | 551-5911 |
| Dean of Students Office | 551-5800 |
| Residence Life Staff | 551-5800 |
| Todd Wehr Center Office | 551-5801 |
Campus Security, located on the Terrace level of Johnson Hall, can be contacted at extension 5911. The Security office is staffed 24 hours per day. Carthage contracts with Securitas Security Services, Inc. to provide campus security services. Securitas provides this service to comply with the policies established by Carthage and on a schedule set by the College. Securitas Officers are trained to provide security and safety for private companies and institutions. Securitas employees are not deputized law enforcement officers and do not have police arresting authority. Their functions include: assuring the safety of the community members on campus, making periodic inspection tours of buildings and grounds, guarding against fire, theft and illegal entry, enforcing traffic and parking regulations, and aiding in maintaining an orderly campus environment. Securitas Security are designated agents for the College and are authorized to ask students for identification and assistance in the course of carrying out their duties and expect students to comply. On behalf of the College, Securitas maintains a working relationship with the Kenosha Police Department and the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department. Should situations warrant, Securitas may ask for Police Department and Sheriff personnel to respond to problems on campus. Normal procedure is for these enforcement agencies to contact Securitas before entering campus with the intent of investigating a situation or questioning a student. Carthage students, employees and guests are subject to all local, state, and federal laws, in addition to College policies set forth in the Carthage Student Community Code, & the Employee/Faculty Handbook.
The Dean of Students Office and Residence Life Staff sponsor educational and preventive programs to promote safety and the role of personal responsibility in crime prevention. Programs and safety features include:
These programs are presented at the beginning of fall semester and in the orientation programs. They are also presented periodically during the semester, and information regarding these topics is always available from the Dean of Students office.
The Carthage campus is closed to the public and to unregistered guests each day from 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. All entrance and exit doors of the residence halls are locked 24 hours-a-day. Access to the residence halls is limited to members of the Carthage community with valid ID cards and registered guests. Exterior doors of the halls are equipped with electronic scanners that read Carthage ID cards and unlock in response to properly encoded ID cards. All resident students have access to their own residence hall 24 hours a day and to all other halls from 8:00 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, and from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. From 8:00 p.m. to midnight, Residence Life staff members are stationed at the desk in the lobby of each residence hall. All exterior doors of the halls are monitored from the lobby desk and the staff member is in telephone contact with the Carthage Campus Security Office. Campus Security Officers and the Residence Life staff make rounds in the residence halls from 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Guests should be registered by their student hosts in the Campus Security Office (Johnson Hall, Terrace level) from 8:00 a.m. to midnight. Listed below are the hours for campus buildings during the academic year.
| Fritch Chapel | Siebert Chapel | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday - Thursday | 6:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. | Sunday - Saturday | 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. | |
| Friday - Saturday | 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. | |||
| Johnson Arts Center | Straz Center | |||
| Sunday - Thursday | 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m. | Monday - Thursday | 7:00 a.m. - Midnight | |
| Friday - Saturday | 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. | Friday | 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. | |
| Saturday | 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | |||
| Sunday | Noon - Midnight | |||
| Lentz Hall | N.E. Tarble Athletic and Recreation Center | |||
| Monday - Thursday | 7:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. | Monday - Thursday | 6:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. | |
| Friday | 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Friday | 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. | |
| Saturday | 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Saturday | 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. | |
| Sunday | Noon - 11:00 pm | |||
| Todd Wehr Center | Joan C. Potente Chapel | |||
| Sunday - Thursday | 6:00 a.m. - Midnight | Sunday - Saturday | 6:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. | |
Carthage recognizes that students often need education and assistance because a person significant to them is affected by chemical dependency, or because they require support in their own decisions not to use or abuse alcohol and/or other drugs. Since chemical dependency frequently precedes AODA, Carthage wishes to provide education and assistance to any students displaying the signs of such harmful involvement. Chemical dependency is a serious illness that can be treated successfully if identified early, if appropriate referral to community agencies is made, and if adequate support is afforded those who are in the process of recovery. Carthage adheres to the laws of the State of Wisconsin regarding the consumption of alcohol, thereby recognizing that individuals under the age of 21 are not of legal drinking age. Given that the majority of the student body at Carthage is under the legal age for purposes of the possession or use of alcohol, the College policy accommodates that majority.
2008 Calendar Year - 352 reported alcohol and illegal drug incidents involving 567 students
2007 Calendar Year - 228 reported alcohol and illegal drug incidents involving 486 students
2006 Calendar Year - 238 reported alcohol and illegal drug incidents involving 423 students
All violations of Carthage policies or state and federal laws will be prosecuted by College officials. Students' rights and responsibilities outlined herein adhere to the standard administrative practice regarding discipline and students' rights. The entire campus community must assume the goals of promoting and enforcing a sense of personal responsibility and exhibiting responsible behavior toward the consumption of alcohol.
The following sanctions shall be employed:
NOTE: Fines collected for violation of the alcohol policy are dedicated to student educational programming specifically related to the use of alcohol and other drugs.
Disciplinary action will be taken regarding the use or abuse of controlled substances based on the degree of severity. A first violation may result in a student's suspension or dismissal from Carthage. Local law enforcement agencies may be summoned, AODA assessment may be required, fines may be assessed and action similar to other AODA violations may be imposed.
The AODA policy is also available in the Community Code. The Community Code is available at the Dean of Students office or on-line at: http://www.carthage.edu/campuslife/code/
Sexual offenses, including rape, are defined as any forced, unwanted sexual contact made toward another person or, any sexual contact with a person under the age of consent. Acquaintance rape is a sexual offense committed against someone the offender knows.
The victim of a sexual offense and/or acquaintance rape should contact a Residence Life staff member, Campus Security or the Kenosha Police Department immediately following the incident. The emotional and physical well-being of the student, immediate medical attention, and documentation of the incident are priorities of the institution. In the event of an alleged sexual offense, Carthage will a victim’s academic and living situations if those changes are requested by the victim and are reasonably available.
All incidents reported to Residence Life staff members and/or Campus Security will be investigated and adjudicated according to the judicial procedures set forth in the Student Community Code. During the adjudication, both the accuser and accused are entitled to an opportunity to have others present during the disciplinary proceeding. Serious disciplinary action, including possible suspension or dismissal from the college may result. Both the accuser and accused must be informed of the outcome of any institutional proceeding which alleges a sex offense.
Counseling information and educational materials regarding sexual assault and acquaintance rape are available from the Health and Counseling Center (551-5710). If a student wishes to speak with an off-campus resource, Women and Children’s Horizons may be reached at 262.652.3500, 800.853.3503 or online at www.wchkenosha.org.
Law enforcement agency information provided by the State of Wisconsin under §170101(j) of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. §14071(j)), concerning registered sex offenders, may be obtained by contacting the Kenosha Police Department, 1000-55th Street, Kenosha, WI 53140, (262) 605-5015. Information concerning registered sex offenders can also be obtained from the official State of Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry web-site, located at http://offender.doc.state.wi.us/public/.
The definitions that follow are in accordance with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
The definitions of forcible and nonforcible sex offenses are excerpted from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Incident-Based Reporting System Edition of the Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
The table below presents a summary of criminal acts reported on the Carthage campus for the period of January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007. The offenses listed were reported to Securitas Security and/or the Dean of Students Office for investigation and action. The Carthage campus traditionally has been free of criminal threat to members of the community.
Crimes Reported |
||||||
| 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||
| OFFENSE | Total | Hate Crimes |
Total | Hate Crimes | Total | Hate Crimes |
| Aggravated Assault | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Arson | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Burglary | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Murder and Non-Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sex Offenses - Forcible | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sex Offenses - Nonforcible | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Hate Crimes Involving Bodily Injury |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Arrests |
|||
| Offense | 2007 Total |
2006 Total |
2005 Total |
| Liquor Law | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Drug Law | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Illegal Weapons | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Disciplinary Referrals |
|||
| Offense | 2007 Total |
2006 Total |
2005 Total |
| Alcohol | 430 | 486 | 423 |
| Drugs | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Weapons Possession | 0 | 0 | 0 |