Campus Security

2000-2002 Lenoir-Rhyne University
Campus Crime Report

This report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in certain off campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Lenoir-Rhyne University; and public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report by contacting the Department of Security Services, Admissions or by accessing the following website: www.lrc.edu, then click on "For Current Students", click on "Campus Security", click on "Campus Crime Report". To print the Campus Crime Report in its entirety, select "Print" then click on "Campus Crime Definitions and Statistics" and select "Print".

This report and information are done in accordance with Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act. It is distributed annually to all students and employees of Lenoir-Rhyne University. It is given to parents and prospective students upon request.

• How to Report A Crime / Incident
• Timely Warnings (Danger To University Community)
• Crime Prevention Programs
• Campus Facilities
• Emergency Telephones
• Maintenance Of Campus Facilities
• Drug And Alcohol Abuse
• Fire Alarms And Fire Equipment
• Weapons On Campus
• Trespassing
• Sexual Assault
• Reporting Sexual Assault
• Resources For Victims Of Sexual Assault
• Sexual Harassment Policy
• Campus Crime Definitions And Statistics

Security and Safety on campus are coordinated by the Department of Security Services. Security conducts foot, vehicular and bicycle patrols of the campus community 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The Security Services office is located in the Cromer Center.

The security officer on duty may be contacted by dialing extension 7146 or "0" from any college telephone. Callers using phones other than college extension phones should dial 328-7146. Emergency situations may also be reported by dialing 9-911 or 9-328-5551 from any college extension phone.

Lenoir-Rhyne security officers assist all members of the college community in emergency situations while making every effort to provide for their safety. Security officers also have the responsibility for the protection of University property and the enforcement of all traffic rules and regulations of the college. Having no powers of arrest and carrying no weapons, the security officer works closely with all law enforcement agencies. Local law enforcement agencies regularly patrol the adjacent streets, sometimes visit the campus, and always provide assistance to the campus security when needed.

While security officers strive to make the campus a safe place to live and work, they request assistance and cooperation at all times. Suspicious looking acts or individuals should be reported to the officers immediately. Individuals should take responsibility for their own safety by taking caution while on or off campus. Accurate and prompt reporting of all crimes or potential problems is strongly encouraged.

Lenoir-Rhyne University recognizes that the University community needs to be advised of situation(s) that may occur that pose a threat to students or employees. In the event of such a situation, the University community will be notified by voice mail, e-mail, campus mail and / or fliers posted and distributed throughout the campus.

Lenoir-Rhyne University provides crime prevention programs which are available throughout the year. These programs provide insight to keep you and your property safe and secure.
Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Fire Safety
• Residence Hall Safety
• Vehicle Safety
• Alcohol and Drug Awareness
• Sexual Assault Awareness
• Personal Safety
• Overseas Safety Awareness
• 24 Hour Escort Service

The University is an open campus and all buildings except residence halls are accessible to anyone during normal hours of operation. The security officer on duty locks exterior doors on campus buildings each evening. The officer also notes maintenance concerns regarding locks and other security hardware and reports them as soon as possible. Residence hall access is controlled by key, combination, and / or electronic card. Each residence hall room has a separate lock with keys issued only to the room's current resident(s).

The Department of Security Services also provides an escort service upon request. This service is limited to campus, local medical facilities or pharmacy and is available 24 hours per day.

Additional services provided by the Department are motor vehicle assistance, lost and found and crime prevention programs.

Emergency telephones are located in the vicinity of the main entrance to all residence halls. There is also an emergency phone at the entrance to the 7th Avenue parking lot and in the Stadium parking lot. All emergency telephones will give direct access to the security officer on duty and permit the caller to dial 911.

Proper exterior lighting is an important part of Lenoir-Rhyne University's commitment to campus security and safety. Parking lots, walkways and building exteriors are well lit and are checked regularly by the security officers.
Shrubbery, trees, and other vegetation on campus are trimmed on a regular basis. Security officers routinely check the campus for security and safety concerns. Any problem found is reported to the proper department(s).

The University respects and enforces the laws of the State of North Carolina and has additional rules and guidelines pertaining to drug and alcohol sale and use. Illegal drug use will likely lead to suspension or expulsion. Violations of alcohol policies are confronted through a graduated set of responses and sanctions which are designed to assist the student in addressing problems and inappropriate behaviors. See the student handbook or visit the student information page on the Lenoir-Rhyne University web site at www.lrc.edu for further information.

The University's drug and alcohol abuse policy is also available in a separate pamphlet.

FIRE ALARMS AND FIRE EQUIPMENT

According to North Carolina General Statute 14-286, it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to wantonly and willfully give or cause to be given, or to advise, counsel, or aid and abet anyone in giving, a false alarm of fire, or to break the glass key protector, or to pull the slide arm, or lever of any station or signal box of any fire alarm system except in case of fire, or willfully misuse or damage a portable fire extinguisher or in any way willfully interfere with, damage, deface, molest or injure any part or portion of any fire-alarm, fire-detection, smoke-detection or fire-extinguishing system.

Any person violating any of these provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding $500.00 and / or imprisonment for not more than 6 months. Students will also be subject to action by college officials.

North Carolina law explicitly forbids possession of certain weapons on any property owned, used or operated by an educational institution. General Statue 14-269.2 lists the following as illegal weapons: any gun, rifle, dynamite, cartridge, bomb, grenade, mine, powerful explosive, bowie knife, blackjack, metallic knuckles, or any other weapons of like kind. (Fishing and hunting knives and any other knives not classified as pocketknives or penknives are included.) Persons found responsible for possession of the above, will be turned over to a criminal court. University officials may take additional action.

The University reserves the right to issue a "No Trespassing" order to any person whose presence is deemed unsuitable. Subsequent trespassing on the University grounds will result in civil action.

Lenoir-Rhyne University sponsors prevention, intervention and education programs specifically addressing rape, acquaintance rape and other forcible and non forcible sexual offenses. A formal sexual awareness program facilitated by professional trainers is offered to the general college population and is a required of the freshman population. Various other sexual awareness and prevention programs are conducted in the residence halls by Student Affairs personnel. The college recognizes the importance of assisting students who are victims of sexual assault and helping them to regain a sense of personal control over their lives and the decisions they make.

If you are sexually assaulted, you should do the following:

• Go to a safe place. 

• Do not shower or bathe.  

• Do not urinate, if possible.

• Do not eat, drink, smoke or brush you teeth if oral contact took place.

• Do not destroy or wash the clothes you were wearing. If you change, place your clothes in a paper bag.

•  Contact your Resident Director / Area Coordinator, Campus Security and/or Hickory Police Department.

• Seek medical treatment

Victims of sexual assault are encouraged to file a report with campus security and the Hickory Police Department. The filing of a report does not obligate the victim to pursue charges if he/she does not want to pursue them, but does make filing of charges easier if the victim changes his/her mind at a later date. Following the above suggestions will ensure the preservation of evidence.

Options available to sexual assault victims are college judicial system, criminal prosecution and civil suits. Lenoir-Rhyne University will assist the victim in pursuing whichever option(s) the victim chooses. The University judiciary and the criminal courts are independent systems; charges may be filed in either or both systems.

To begin a college judicial court action, the victim should notify campus security, Office of Counseling Services or the Associate Dean of Student Affairs (Judicial Officer). Both the victim and the accused will have the opportunity to present testimony and witnesses and each will be allowed to select a representative to support them. Both the victim and the accused shall be informed of the outcome of any college disciplinary proceedings brought alleging a sex offense.

Sanctions the college may impose following final determination include suspension; and/or attendance of an appropriate treatment program, or expulsion.
(Refer to the Student Handbook for details on Judicial Hearings)
If you are assaulted and do not want to pursue action with the college or the criminal justice system, you may want to consider making an anonymous report. With your permission, Counseling Services can file a report on the details of the incident without revealing your identity. The purpose of an anonymous report is to comply with your wish to keep the matter confidential while taking steps to ensure the future safety of yourself and others. With such information, the college can keep accurate records about the number of incidents involving students; determine where there is a pattern of assaults with regard to a particular location, method, or assailant; and alert the campus community to potential danger.

Office of Counseling Services………………………..328-7247

Student Health Center ……………………………….328-7181
University Security ………………………………………328-7145
24 hours per day………………………………………..328-7146
Rape Crisis Center of Catawba County……………....322-6011
Campus Pastor………………………………………….328-7248

Hickory Police Department Victim Services…….…261-2642

If you are the victim of a sexual assault, Counseling Services can assist you with any academic or living situations if changes are requested and are reasonably available.

More information is available on sexual assault in the University Student Handbook, The Cub, which can be found on Lenoir-Rhyne University’s web page www.lrc.edu., click on Student Information, then click on Information for Students, Faculty and Staff, then click on The Cub.

It is our goal to maintain an environment free of discrimination based on gender.  This statement concerns one form of sexual discrimination:  sexual harassment.

We expect all members of this community to foster positive attitudes and behaviors toward members of each gender.  We wish to make explicit our abhorrence of language, behavior and attitude that intimidates, offends and debilitates members of this community.

We encourage those who experience or observe harassment to bring such incidents to the attention of those who carry special responsibility for nurture in this community.

How is sexual harassment legally defined?

Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of sexual nature when:

1. submission to such conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of an individual’s employment or academic standing, or
2. submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as a basis for an employment or academic decision affecting that individual, or
3. such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance, or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working, learning or living environment.

How do you recognize sexual harassment?

When having to make this determination, ask yourself if the behavior is of a sexual nature and

• is offensive and / or unwanted.
• may interfere with job or academic performance.
• causes unnecessary discomfort, humiliation or harm to an employee, student, customer, supplier or other guest.

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