The residence hall staff, as well as The University of Iowa Police, take many steps to ensure
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 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
use a 15-passenger UI van to transport women from a designated pickup point to their
residence halls. To arrange for transportation, women call 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 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
Sexual harassment subverts the mission of the University and threatens the careers,
educational experience, and well-being of students, faculty, and staff. The University of Iowa Policy
on Sexual Harassment and Consensual Relationships prohibits both sexual harassment in all its
forms and amorous relationships, consensual or otherwise, between faculty and students in the
instructional context.
Informal complaints alleging violations of the Policy can be brought to any appropriate member
of the University community, such as the Director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, the
University Ombudsperson, the Associate Provost and Vice President for Student Services, and any
collegiate dean, department head, or advisor. Formal complaints of sexual harassment are filed
with the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity.
Copies of the University of Iowa Policy on Sexual Harassment and Consensual Relationships, as
well as copies of the Sexual Harassment Complaint Procedures, can be obtained from the Office of
Equal Opportunity and Diversity, 202 Jessup Hall, 335-0705 (text 335-0697).
Sharps Disposal
Do not dispose of sharps (any medical wastes with needles, syringes, lances, or other sharp
pointed ends) in the trash. Contact your 24-hour 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 24-hour 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 24-hour 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 24-hour
desk. Do not hang items from sprinkler head and/or fire detection/fighting equipment.
Smoking
The University of Iowa Residence Halls are considered substance-free
environments. Therefore the use of tobacco, including smokeless tobacco products,
and legal smoking products are prohibited in residence hall student rooms and in public areas.
Public areas include hallways, stairways, elevators, lobbies, lounges, restrooms, etc. 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 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, 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 24-hour 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 24-hour 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 24-hour desk for more information.
Substance-Free Environment
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 policy. Alcohol
possession and consumption is 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 30 for the alcohol and drug policies, and page 32 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 Lifestyle Floors.
