Housing

A continuing partnership between everyone who lives, works and studies at Southwestern is the key to a safe campus. Southwestern's Student Housing staff encourages students to be responsible for their own safety and the safety of others. Alertness, common sense precautions and concern for others are keys to preventing crime and helping us ensure the safety of our campus. We urge you to be aware of your environment and to maintain the highest possible level of safety within the Southwestern Community.

Southwestern’s Campus Safety / Crime Stat Reporting is available at
http://www.socc.edu/admin/pgs/crime-stats/index.shtml.

Fire Safety...Protect Yourself and Others

Ensuring that residence halls are as safe as possible is everyone's responsibility.

We encourage you to review the information in the Annual Fire Safety Report link below so you can prepare for - and help prevent - emergencies.

1. Annual Fire Safety Report [PDF]

Reporting Criminal Acts or Emergencies on Campus

Contact Campus Security First! Dial 541.297.4200.

In the event that you do not get an answer by calling 541.297.4200, you
may dial 541.260.6996 to speak directly and immediately with the Resident Assistant on duty.

At the first opportunity, phone or come to Campus Security to report a crime or suspicious incident. During the academic year, reports of crimes or requests for services may be made in person at the Campus Security Office from 8:00 a.m. until 5 p.m., five days a week. After 5 p.m. on weekdays and on weekends, please call 541.297.4200 to speak with a Campus Security Officer and report an incident.

It is important that all reports be made with Campus Security prior to contacting Coos Bay PD or North Bend PD. This allows Campus Security to conduct an initial investigation and contact the proper authorities if necessary.

Any emergency involving a threat to personal safety or property should be reported immediately to Campus Security. Each incident is documented by a written report. Follow-up counseling services will be arranged by Housing as needed for any victims involved.

NOTE: If you are dialing out from a Housing line, you must dial 9 before entering the number, e.g. 9-260-6996.

Crime Prevention and Community Education

New students are introduced to learning safe personal habits during New Student Orientation when the Director of Campus Security discusses safety issues. All new students receive brochures on personal safety, rape prevention and crime prevention. Although the possibility of crime exists, educational programs and precautionary measures can make a difference. Since rape crimes often go unreported, special New Student Orientation programs encourage first-year students to recognize "date rape" and overcome their fears of reporting such crimes.

Working with Campus Security and Student Life, Housing sponsors educational programming on topics including personal safety awareness and security, rape prevention, and the prevention of burglary and vandalism. Emphasis is placed on teaching students to be responsible for one another to ensure the safety of the Southwestern community. Housing staff are trained on how to recognize and report crimes when they occur and how to promote the development of a sense of social responsibility in the campus community.

Medical Emergencies

If you are on campus, call the RA Duty Phone at 541-260-6996 or Campus Security at 541-297-4200 to speak with someone immediately. If you are off campus, dial 911 for immediate assistance.

Accurate information about the injured or ill person and the exact location must be given to Campus Security for an appropriate emergency response. The College relies on for emergency medical first-aid treatment and transportation to the hospital.

Campus Housing Safety Tips

Personal safety is everyone's responsibility. You must assume responsibility for your own personal safety and the security of your personal belongings by taking simple, common sense precautions. Many crimes occur simply because an opportunity permitted them to happen. If each student takes a few reasonable precautions to enhance personal safety, student-to-student crime will be greatly reduced.

Steps to Help Prevent Room Thefts

1. Lock both your apartment entry/ exit doors and your room. Open doors are invitations. Most incidents of theft in Student Housing occur when an apartment or room is unlocked. Keep your apartment/ room locked at all times even if you will be out for just a minute. Lock your door even if you're only going to the bathroom or the room next door. Be sure to lock your door when leaving a roommate asleep inside.
2. Put wallets, purses, jewelry and other valuables in a safe place in your room. Leaving them out and unattended makes them (and you) an easy mark.
3. Never loan out your apartment/ room key.
4. Keep a record of all valuables with descriptions and serial numbers. You can use the Personal Property Inventory sheet for this.
5. Report to your Resident Assistant, a Resident Director, or the Area Director all doors, locks and windows needing repair.
6. Report all thefts to Housing staff and Campus Security immediately.

NOTE: Student Housing and Southwestern Oregon Community College assume no liability for loss or theft of personal property.

Don't wait until you experience a loss of your personal property. It's discouraging to see students lose valuable property or have personal possessions stolen because appropriate precautions were not taken. Please do what you can in preventing thefts in your residence or on campus, and help make Student Housing a more pleasant and safe environment in which to live.

Access to Student Housing

Student Housing utilizes a card access system that helps increase the security for student residents. Students, faculty and staff with encoded ID cards are afforded access to specific doors throughout Housing. Aside from specific Housing staff, only the ID cards issued to those students assigned as building residents permit access to apartments in that building.

Doors not providing ID card access have locks to which only Housing staff have the key for or allow egress only. Residents are encouraged to help keep all doors closed.
Residents in need of a telephone outside their apartment will have use of one in the lobby area of the Lighthouse Depot. This phone provides access to residents, Campus Security, or 911 in case of an emergency. Please remember to dial 9 if dialing out from Housing phone lines.

Unknown Visitors in Student Housing

1. Do not prop exterior doors open.
2. Make it a point to get to know Housing staff, especially your RA.
3. Report any suspicious-looking individuals who you do not feel belong in Student Housing or any unusual incidents in and around Housing to Campus Security.
4. Do not allow door-to-door sales people to enter your apartment. College policy prohibits anyone from soliciting on campus.
5. Do not take in an overnight guest whom you do not know.
6. Be careful what you write on your message board. Memo boards on your door are great for communicating with friends but you should avoid announcing where you will be or when you will return.
7. Carry a whistle with you at all times; use it if you find yourself in trouble.
8. If a stranger calling on the phone asks "Who is this?", do not give your name. Ask instead, "Who are you calling?" or "What number are you calling?" If you receive nuisance, obscene or prank phone calls, do not engage in conversation. Calmly hang up and immediately notify Campus Security.
9. Attend Housing programs on personal safety and property protection. The most important thing to remember about safety and security is to use common sense.