Residence Hall Policies and Procedures

All full-time undergraduate students between 18 and 22 years of age will be guaranteed a residential space in Carthage housing through the housing sign-up process. Any student not registered for 12 or more credits is ineligible for housing. All full-time undergraduate students are required to live in Carthage housing and be enrolled in a meal plan until they reach senior class standing. Upon reaching senior standing, students may choose to live off campus or may participate in the housing selection process in order to secure Carthage housing. Senior class standing will be determined according to the number of academic credit hours completed. Students attaining senior standing during the academic year are able to opt to live off-campus the following academic year. Housing contracts are for the entire academic year and cannot be broken; contracts currently in progress must be fulfilled. Residential students are responsible for all of the terms of the housing contract.

Exceptions to this housing policy include:

• students choosing to commute from their parents’ or legal guardians’ primary address, which has been established for at least a year, within 30 driving miles of Carthage College
• students who are 23 years of age or older
• students who are married
• students with dependent children
• students with veteran status
• students who are a ward of the state
• students who have achieved independent status according to federal financial aid guidelines

Residency Policy Exemption Applications must be completed and approved. Contact the Office of Residential Life at housing@carthage.edu or 262-551-6169, or stop in the Office of Residential Life on the main floor of The Tower to obtain the form.

Exemptions to the residency requirement are not guaranteed and will be examined according to housing capacity needs and documentation provided. All exemptions are made at the sole discretion of the Director of Residential Life. Since the College must meet its financial obligation, the first consideration must be given to ensure capacity occupancy in the residence halls. The Office of Residential Life reserves the right to deny housing to any applicant. These policies apply to all students including prospective students, new students, and returning students.

Professional Residential Life Staff includes full-time and live-in staff members, including a Director of Residential Life, an Assistant Director of Residential Life, Area Coordinators, and Hall Directors. Student staff members include Senior Resident Assistants and Resident Assistants. The staff is responsible for developing a positive, responsible and responsive community so that each resident has the opportunity to develop academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. One of the professional staff members is on duty Monday through Friday on rotation, and at all times during the weekends and some holidays. Resident Assistants are on duty from 8 p.m. to midnight every Sunday-Thursday evening and 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday in each building. Each student staff member, the Office of Residential Life, and the Office of Public Safety have copies of the staff schedules.

• Students are responsible for adhering to Carthage policies and the terms of the housing contract.
• Students are responsible for the actions of their guests.
• Students are responsible for all activities and incidents that occur in their rooms. Disciplinary action will be taken in situations where violations of Carthage policy occur.
• The College reserves the right to make any change in room or roommate assignments at any time.

2 points *

With exception of fish, no animals or pets of any type are permitted in the residence halls or elsewhere on campus. Violations will be referred for disciplinary action and may be fined a minimum of $100 a day until the animal is removed. (Note: Students looking to have an Emotional Support Animal should reach out to the Office of Residential Life to learn more about the Housing Accommodations Request process.)

1 point *
Open coil, unshielded, and/or improperly grounded appliances are not allowed. Surge protectors must be properly grounded and in good repair. A surge protector must be rated correctly for the specific electric load. Hanging or draping an electrical cord is prohibited. When an unauthorized appliance is discovered, the item will be confiscated by residential life staff. Appliances found in the residence halls will result in disciplinary action and/or the removal and disposal of the appliance by College officials. Fines may be imposed at the rate of $100 for the first appliance found, $150 for the second, $200 for the third found, etc. If the appliance must be removed and disposed of by the College, the student assumes all monetary compensation for the College’s inconvenience, labor and costs involved. Any questionable appliance should be approved by the Office of Student Life.

MICROWAVES

Microwave ovens are allowed in student rooms but are limited to 800 watts total power. The College reserves the right to regulate microwave usage at any time to prevent electrical overload between rooms and excessive circuit breaker resetting.

REFRIGERATORS

Refrigerators may be used but they must not exceed 5 cubic feet. Large, kitchen size refrigerators are not allowed. Refrigerators must have the following specifications:

• Weight: maximum 100 lbs.
• Maximum dimensions, including all protuberances (such as handles, bumpers, grills, etc.), height 35 inches, width 24 inches, depth 25 inches, interior capacity 5 cubic feet
• No exposed sharp corners or edges
• Electrical voltage rating 11 5V, 50/60 cycles, average 1.7 max. amps. 195 watts, grounding-type cord 3 wire, UL approved unit and cord with labels conspicuously placed

Refrigerators must be unplugged, emptied, cleaned, and defrosted prior to Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring Break.

Only one refrigerator meeting the guidelines above is permitted per two residents in a residence hall room. For example, two students living in a standard double may only have one fridge present in the room, three students living in a triple room may have two fridges present, etc. Students needing their own fridge for medical reasons should reach out to the Office of Residential Life to inquire about the Housing Accommodations Request process.

COFFEE MAKERS

Coffee makers (regular coffee makers, Keurig) are allowed to be used in residence halls rooms as long as the coffee maker has an auto shut-off feature.

OTHER APPLIANCES

Other small kitchen appliances are allowed to be used in The Tower kitchen areas only. Appliances MUST be supervised by the student when in use. Residents may store small kitchen appliances in their residence hall rooms, but they may not be used in the rooms. Open-coil appliances such as pizza makers and toasters are NOT allowed. If an item is found to be plugged in, whether in use or not, the resident faces disciplinary action and/or the removal and disposal of the appliance in addition to a fine.

TELEVISIONS / CABLE

Basic cable television service for each room has been provided through the Residence Life Council. Problems with reception should be reported directly to help@carthage.edu. Carthage assumes no responsibility for the repair or upkeep of cable services.

CLEANLINESS

Residents are expected to keep their rooms in good order and clean enough that they do not cause noxious odors, encourage the development of a pest population nor endanger the health of other residents.

2 points *

Carthage College prohibits male and female students from sharing the same individual residence hall room. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action. The only people allowed to live in a residence hall room are the residents that are officially assigned to that space. If a person is found to be living in a room to which they are not assigned, they are subject to disciplinary action.

Cooking, other than microwave cooking, is prohibited in student rooms or unauthorized common residence hall or campus areas. A stationary grill is available behind Tarble Hall. The use of charcoal or gas grills in residence halls is prohibited. Liquid lighter fluid will not be stored in the residence halls. Students are able to cook food using the kitchenettes in the Tower Residence Hall.

Carthage College is not responsible for damage, loss, or theft of personal property. Personal property includes but is not limited to any items for which the student has possession (examples: bedding, textbooks, academic supplies, electronic devices, clothing, jewelry, recreational equipment, and more).

It is strongly recommended that students review any insurance policies they or their families/guardians, maintain to determine if personal belongings are covered under the policy. If not, Carthage encourages families to consider purchasing a renters insurance policy to cover their belongings from damage, loss, or theft.

PROCEDURE

If an incident occurs in a residential facility that threatens to damage personal belongings, the threat should be immediately reported to a Residential Life staff member or public safety officer to engage maintenance or environmental services (EVS) to assist with remediation (may include third-party vendor as part of remediation). Examples of damages that can impact personal property might include water entering the room or fire. In either case, the first action is to report what has occurred to address the issue creating the damage immediately.

As a part of the remediation, the Residential Life staff will collaborate with Public Safety and Operations on any investigation in the incident, assist with any third party remediation involvement, collect information from the students, and assist with any relocations required during the remediation process.

Information that may be collected from the student may include:

• Timeline of impact from the threat impacting the room
• Location of area of impact in the room
• List of any personal items affected and have them available for inspection/evaluation (students required to maintain receipts to evidence loss)
• Photos of area and personal items impacted After the investigation, if it is determined that a student(s) has caused the threat that created damage in the room or to personal belongings, the individuals will be forwarded to student conduct.

Operations will address remediation and repairs in any room, while residential life will assist with communications related to support of students impacted, including records related to damaged personal belongings.

2 points *
The College furnishes each room with a study desk, a chair, a bed, a mattress, a chest of drawers, and a closet for each resident. Some spaces are also furnished with a nightstand and a small rolling storage unit. In all of the residence halls, modular furniture allows students a variety of room configurations, including the ability to bunk the bed units. No furniture other than that which is provided should be necessary.

All college furnishings must remain in the student rooms; storage space is not available. Students may bring other furnishings (carpet, couches, chairs, etc.) provided that do not pose a fire hazard or prevent emergency access to and from the residence hall room. Lofts and bed risers taller than six inches are prohibited in the residence hall rooms.

This policy also prohibits the construction or placement of any furnishings (i.e. bunking beds in the middle of the room or in front of windows), paneling, or material that prevents a clear view of the window from the hallway. It is at the discretion of the Office of Residential Life whether or not the room conforms to this policy. The College reserves the right to remove any or all furnishings that are not provided by the College at any time for any reason.

As a precautionary measure, student rooms may be inspected at all College breaks (i.e., Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring Break, etc.). College-owned or leased residential houses, residential spaces, and apartments will be inspected by Carthage staff on a regular basis. If furniture or mattresses are found out of rooms in any area of the residence hall, the items will be removed to conform with local fire codes. The resident(s) will be fined at least $100 for each item per day and will be charged for this when they move out of the room or when the room is inspected.

Students may decorate their residence hall rooms with posters and other similar decorations as long as they do not cause damage to the room, are not considered a fire hazard and do not violate other Carthage policies.

Students are not permitted to paint their rooms. The paint within the residence halls is maintained and coordinated by the Department of Buildings and Grounds.

Greek organizations are governed by the Greek Chapter Assigned Housing Guidelines housed between the Office of Student Involvement and the Office of Residential Life.

Damage that occurs to a room or its furnishings is the responsibility of the occupant(s) and will be charged to the resident(s). If another individual responsible for damages is known, that person will be assessed the charges. Report any damage to the resident assistant or the Office of Residential Life as soon as possible. If the damage is not repaired within a reasonable amount of time, report it again.

Permanent modifications to Carthage facilities are prohibited. No drilling, cutting, nailing, or any other type of change to the permanent structure of the facility is allowed. This includes the hanging of items, installation of equipment, and all other types of activities that alter the physical structure of the facility. In addition to other disciplinary sanctions, offending students will be charged for any repairs, replacements, or cleaning necessary to restore the area or objects to their original condition.

3 points *

Each corridor and large common area is equipped with fire alarm devices and a chemical fire extinguisher. Exit signs mark each passageway to evacuate the building.

The first priority is saving the lives of the residents. The second priority is to save personal property. The building will be vacated completely at the sound of an alarm. Failure to evacuate will result in serious disciplinary action. Do not assume that any fire alarm is false.

Because of the threat to individual safety and property, the following College policy regarding fire safety will be enforced: any student found fraudulently activating a fire alarm or smoke detector, or setting a fire, will be subject to immediate dismissal from the College and subject to penalty under state and local laws by civil authorities.

Gas driven engines, gas containers, paint, containers of flammable liquids and fireworks are prohibited. Burning candles and incense is prohibited. The occupancy capacity of individual student rooms is limited to 10 persons per room in order to conform to local fire and safety codes and regulations. Students are prohibited from placing or storing personal items or College furniture in any residence hall corridor, stairwell or other areas of egress.

Any student setting a fire or found tampering with a fire extinguisher, exit sign, fire alarm or smoke detector will be subject to immediate dismissal. Any violation of the fire safety policy may also result in a fine up to $500, severe disciplinary measures by the College, and may be turned over to civil authorities for additional action.

Any food kept in student rooms should be stored without presenting a health hazard. The College reserves the right to make further restrictions regarding the storage of food should a pest problem develop. Students should not leave and/or store their food in commonplace areas. The College reserves the right to throw out any food left behind in commonplace fridges (i.e. the Tower kitchenettes, Oaks lounges, etc.).

2 points *

Hallway games and sports are not permitted in campus buildings. Riding bicycles and in-line skating is also prohibited in the residence halls and campus buildings. Any violations will result in disciplinary action and charges for damages.

The washer and dryer machines are managed through the Office of Residential Life and leased from CSC ServiceWorks. Please use the CSC ServiceWorks website or the CSC ServiceWorks app to report any problems with the laundry machines.

When reporting an issue, please use the following steps:

• Take note of the machine’s ID number and location
• Scan the machine’s barcode or type in the machine’s ID manually
• Select the issue
• Type any additional comments
• Click “submit”

You can submit a refund request online for money lost due to a laundry machine issue.

If you need any other assistance regarding laundry in the residence halls, please contact the Office of Residential Life.

2 points *

College-provided furnishings should not be removed or exchanged between rooms. Violations of this policy will result in a minimum $100 fine for each piece found. Each student involved in the unauthorized possession of College furnishings will be fined, as stated, as an individual participant. Offenses may result in other more severe disciplinary sanctions.

Damage to residence halls and Carthage furnishings outside of individual rooms will be charged to those responsible. In the event that the identity of those responsible is not known, the damage will be assessed equally to all residents of the wing/floor/hall. This charge will be made once unclaimed damage has been determined. Residents withdrawing during the term will be charged an equal share of the unclaimed damages as of the date of departure. This policy applies exclusively to College-owned furnishings and property.

In compliance with the Higher Education Re-authorization Act of 2008, the purpose of this policy is to provide the procedures for reporting, investigating, and making emergency notifications regarding any resident students of Carthage College who are believed to be missing.

Any member of the Carthage community, including both employees and students, who is concerned that a member of the Carthage community is missing should contact the Office of Student Life at 262-551-5800 or the Office of Public Safety at 262-551-5911, as soon as it is determined that the individual is missing as defined above.

In emergency situations, the Kenosha Police Department should be contacted immediately by dialing 911 or 262-656-1234.

For purposes of this policy, a student may be considered to be a “missing person” if the person’s absence is contrary to his/her usual pattern of behavior and unusual circumstances may have caused the absence. Such circumstances could include, but not be limited to, a report or suspicion that the missing person may be the victim of foul play, has expressed suicidal thoughts, is drug dependent, is in a life-threatening situation, or has been with persons who may endanger the student’s welfare.

Any report of a missing student will be investigated by appropriate College personnel under the coordination of the Office of Student Life and Office of Public Safety. Further, the College will notify the Kenosha Police Department or other appropriate law enforcement agency no later than 24 hours after the time that such student has been determined to be missing.

Each resident, on or before checking into his/her assigned room has the option of identifying the name and contact number of the individual(s) who are a primary contact to be notified in case of an emergency or in the event that the resident is reported missing. In the event the resident is under the age of 18 and is not emancipated, the College is required to have the primary emergency contact be a custodial parent or guardian. The College will initiate the emergency contact provisions in accordance with each resident’s designation no later than 24 hours after the student has been determined to be missing. missing.

1 point *

The problem of noise control in the residence halls is of immense importance in the support of an environment that is conducive to the total development of students. If a stereo, television, instrument, etc. is loud to the point where it can be heard in adjoining rooms; it is, in most cases, too loud. The College reserves the right to confiscate stereos of students who consistently pose a noise problem. The stereo will be stored until the end of the school year at which time the student may retrieve the equipment. We encourage students to accept the responsibility of enforcing and controlling the noise level within their environment. If you encounter irresponsible or uncooperative residents who will not adjust their noise level to that which is acceptable after your request, notify a residence hall staff member. In addition to disciplinary action, residents may be asked to remove stereos or musical instruments from their rooms or from the residence hall. Guests in a room that is excessively or repeatedly loud may be asked to leave the room and non-residents may be asked to leave the residence hall.

1 point *

A noxious odor is ANY aroma of such intensity that it becomes apparent to others. Any odor may become noxious or offensive when it is too strong. Some examples are cigarettes, marijuana, cigar or pipe smoke, perfume, air freshener, or large amounts of dirty laundry. When the source of a noxious odor can be traced to a particular room, the occupants of that room may be subject to disciplinary action.

The residence halls are available for occupancy for returning students the day before the beginning of classes each term. Undergraduates must check out of their rooms at the end of the academic year no later than twenty-four (24) hours of their last exam. Graduating seniors must be out of their room by 5 p.m. on the day of commencement. Residence halls close for Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, and Spring Break. Students must be out of the halls by
5 p.m. on the last day of classes before the break and may return after noon the day before classes resume. Students remaining on campus for J-Term courses may stay in the residence halls between J-Term and Spring Semester. Students who live off campus during J-Term may return to the residence halls after noon the day before registration for Spring Semester. Students who return to the residence halls prior to the approved early arrival time may be charged a $50 improper check-in fee, plus $25 per night of stay before halls reopen.

The Office of Residential Life establishes the dates governing student stay in the residence halls. No one will be permitted to return to campus early or stay late without written permission from the Office of Residential Life for any reason. In the event that permission is granted for a student to return to campus early or late, guests will not be permitted to stay with the student while school is not in session. A written request for extended occupancy must be made to the Office of Residential Life via an early arrival or extended stay application form. Approval of such requests is not automatic. The student will be responsible for extra room and board costs incurred. All students granted permission to return to campus early, or stay on campus late, should realize that college services are very limited during those times.

1 point *
To maintain the living/learning community, the College maintains Quiet and Courtesy Hours. All residents of the halls have a right to quiet at any time of the day when they wish to study or sleep. No resident has the right to make noise that disturbs other residents. Students should keep in mind that sound travels out of windows, down halls, and to the floor above and below their rooms.

During Quiet Hours, all residents are expected to maintain minimal noise and music levels compatible with study and sleep. During Courtesy Hours, residents are expected to maintain courteous noise levels and respond to any requests to reduce their noise or music volume with courtesy.

QUIET HOURS

• Sunday-Thursday: 10 p.m.-8 a.m.
• Friday-Saturday: midnight-8 a.m.

Communities may vote to extend Quiet Hours beyond those listed above.

COURTESY HOURS ARE:

• Sunday-Thursday: 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Friday-Saturday: 8 a.m.-midnight

Room assignments are made through the Office of Residential Life. Students have the opportunity to adjust their current housing assignments and change rooms during our Open Room Change processes. Students may not change room assignments without permission of the Office of Residential Life or outside of those open room change periods. Failure to follow the policy may result in a $50 improper check-out charge and disciplinary action. The College reserves the right to make any changes in room assignments at any time. In order to change rooms please reach out to your professional hall staff member. Your professional hall staff member will be able to explain the room change procedures. Students must follow those directions in order to complete the room change process.

YEAR-END CHECK-OUT POLICY

All students must be checked out by the specified year-end check-out time. Any student who remains in the residence halls after the check-out deadline without permission from the Office of Residential Life will be charged a $50 improper check-out charge, plus $25 per night of stay.

All students without roommates paying for double room occupancy will be consolidated. The Office of Residential Life consolidates rooms and students during both the Fall Semester and Spring Semester. The consolidation procedure is as follows:

• Students paying for double room occupancy without a roommate will receive a list of students who are in a similar situation from the Office of Residential Life.
• Students will be given at least three working days to choose a new roommate from the list provided.
• If no roommate is chosen within the specified time allowed, one will be selected by the Office of Residential Life.
• Once a new roommate has been selected, the person who is chosen to move out must report to the Office of Residential Life to complete the proper paperwork. All students will be given three working days to have the move completed.
• Failure to follow this policy may result in students being billed for a single room and disciplinary action.

At check-out, vacated rooms must be swept, mopped, and dusted and free of all garbage. Rooms must be returned to their original condition and set up. Failure to leave a clean room may result in a minimum charge of $25 per occupant, depending on the condition of the room. Failure to follow established check-in or check-out procedures may result in a $50 fine. Damage that occurs to a room or its furnishings is the responsibility of the occupant(s) and will be charged to the resident(s).

Room keys are distributed to each resident student at check-in and are to be returned when the student checks out of the room. Rooms keys can be returned to the Office of Residential Life. If a key is not returned at check-out, the student will be assessed charges as outlined by the Department of Buildings & Grounds.

Room keys and student identification cards are non-transferable. They should not be loaned to anyone. Use of residence hall keys and ID cards by any person other than the person to whom the key(s) and card has been issued is prohibited.

Residential students should carry their keys and ID card at all times. The Office of Student Life will respond to all lock-out requests made Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Residential life staff is responsible for lockouts that are requested on Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. - 8 a.m. and on Saturday and Sundays. The Office of Public Safety will respond to a request for a student room lock only for the Apartments and Swenson residents when the Office of Student Life is closed.

A student requesting entry to their room must produce a Carthage Identification Card, either before, or immediately upon entry into the room, and sign a lockout form. If the key is lost or stolen, a student must request a new key by filing a maintenance request. An immediate lock recore will be ordered and the student will be assessed a charge of $100 to replace the lock and/or two new keys in the Tower, Swenson, Tarble, Denhart, Johnson, and Madrigrano Family Residence Halls. Oaks residents will be assessed a charge of $200.

Broken Keys

There is no charge for keys that are broken or bent, provided you bring the keys to the Office of Residential Life. All student keys should be picked up at the Office of Residential Life between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. with a valid Carthage ID. If a key is stuck or broken off in a lock, a student must contact the Department of Buildings & Grounds by filing a work order to have the issue resolved.

Contact a residence hall staff member to report any maintenance needs that are necessary or file a maintenance request. If a repair is not made within a reasonable amount of time, the student should contact a residence hall staff member to follow up on the request. The request for repairs grants permission for the maintenance staff to enter the room at their convenience to make the necessary repairs. Failure to allow the maintenance staff access to your room will result in your request not being completed.

Returning students who wish to reserve a room in a residence hall for the following academic year must be registered as full-time students for the following academic year and participate in the online housing selection process in the Spring. Students who have an unfavorable balance on their account and/or are not registered for the following academic year are not eligible to participate in the online housing selection process. When a student selects a room through the online housing selection process in the Spring, they sign a housing contract for the entire academic year. Housing contracts are binding and cannot be broken. For more information about the housing selection process for returning students, please visit the Office of Residential Life.

Single Room Request

Each semester single rooms may be available based on the total resident population and based on the needs of incoming Carthage students. In the event that single rooms are available, only those students who have applied to be included on the single room waitlist through the Office of Residential Life will be considered. A student’s position on the waitlist is not transferable. A student who refuses a single when offered will be removed from the single room waitlist.

If a student’s roommate leaves the residence hall, for whatever reason, that student may first be given the option of remaining in the room as a single and paying the additional fee for the term. A student desiring a single room should contact the Office of Residential Life at housing@carthage.edu to inquire about the availability of a single room. Students requesting a single room should be aware of the following:

• Due to the popularity of single rooms, and the general lack of rooms available for single occupancy, most often students requesting a single room will be placed on a waiting list.
• Students requesting a single room must sign a room buyout form for that room stating that they will pay the additional money for the single.
• Forms are available in the Office of Residential Life. Single assignments are only for the academic year in which they are assigned.

Carthage College recognizes the right of students to be protected against unreasonable personal search and entry of their rooms. In order to safeguard this right, while ensuring its traditions as a residential college where the quality of life is a proper aim of policy and practice, the College enforces the following regulations to govern student search and entry of College-owned student rooms.

• The College reserves the right for its authorized personnel (i.e. Residential Life staff, Public Safety staff, etc.) to enter rooms to inspect, protect and maintain College property and to inspect the contents of student packages, room furnishings, handbags, or backpacks when violations of College policy, State or Federal laws are suspected. “Probable cause” exists when authorized College personnel has reasonably trustworthy information which would warrant a person of reasonable caution to believe that an offense has been or is being committed.
• Residential Life staff and Resident Assistants will inspect student rooms for the purpose of safety and security at the start of each vacation break period. Rooms will be checked for open or unlocked doors and windows, unauthorized residence hall furnishings, plugged in and/or hazardous electrical appliances or health hazards, If warranted, the student will be notified in writing of any items confiscated; arrangements will be made for the return of confiscated items provided that the possession of these items is not a violation of public law. All alcoholic beverages confiscated will be disposed of immediately and will not be returned to the student(s).
• Student rooms may be entered without notice in emergency situations. An emergency situation exists when imminent danger to life, safety, health, or property is feared. Office of Student Life staff members also may enter rooms without prior notification or in the absence of the occupant(s) for matters relating to the comfort and/or safety of fellow hall residents; for example, to close a window or turn off an alarm clock. Such entries are to be recorded by the staff member documenting the name of the person entering the room, the phone extension, the time and date entry was gained, and the reason for entry.
• In non-emergency situations, a member of the Office of Student Life may conduct a student room search in a Residence Hall without prior notification. Such a search can occur when there is probable cause to believe that a violation of College regulations has occurred or is occurring. “Probable cause” exists when a member of the above-stated staff has reasonably trustworthy information that would warrant a person of reasonable caution to believe that an offense has been or is being committed. Contraband or evidence of a violation of a College policy will be seized by the persons making the search.
• Police officers desiring to conduct a search of a student’s possessions in the residence hall must present the Office of Student Life staff with a bona fide search warrant authorizing their search before they proceed.

The above policy does not apply to custodial and maintenance personnel as maintenance requests by students shall be considered as permission to enter. In such cases, no notification of entry will be given.

Making annoying, obscene, abusive, threatening, or harassing calls is contrary to the best interests of students and the College. It is a crime under both state and federal laws for anyone to make obscene or harassing telephone calls. These laws have penalties of imprisonment and/or fine, in addition to disciplinary action and a potential fine from Carthage College.

PRANK CALLS

Students receiving obscene, abusive, threatening, or harassing calls, should follow these instructions:

• Hang up at the first obscene word. Hang up if the caller remains silent the second time you say hello. Remember, you control your telephone, not the person calling.
• Never provide any information, such as your name or address, until the caller has been properly identified.
• If the initial call is threatening in any way, do not hesitate to notify the Office of Student Life, ext. 5800 or
  262-551-5800, or the Office of Public Safety, ext. 5911 or 262-551-5911, immediately. If, however, you are receiving hang-up calls or “no response” calls, it is important to establish a pattern before calling the Office of Student Life or the Office of Public Safety. Keep a log of the dates and times that you are receiving these annoying calls.

Once you have established that there is a pattern of annoyance or harassment, the matter will be referred to the proper authorities for investigation.

The residence halls are closed during Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, and Spring Break. Students who do not return home must make their own arrangements for housing. If a student does not have anywhere to stay, they must apply to stay on campus via the extended stay form. Students may be required to meet with the Director of Residential Life to discuss housing options during break periods. The Office of Residential Life is not obligated to provide housing to any resident during periods when campus is closed or when a break period is in session.

Disposing items out of windows is strictly prohibited. Exiting or entering a room or building through a window, except in emergency situations, is prohibited. Any student found responsible for violating this policy will be assessed severe disciplinary measures, up to and including immediate eviction from the residence halls. If screens are removed from windows, there will be a fine of $50 per day assessed to the student(s) responsible. If a screen is damaged there will be a charge for the repair and replacement of that screen. Articles should not be placed between the screen and window in order to avoid screen distortions that can result in damage charges in damage charges.