Pamphlets
One of the things we do to keep our students informed on
security-related issues is to create and distribute pamphlets on various
subjects. Some of the pamphlets are touched up with a light helping of
humor (hey, who wants to read a BORING pamphlet?), and others are down-right
serious. Either way, our goal is to get a point across, that will make
Houghton College a better place for all to live and learn.
Some pamphlets may appear in this web page before they are
released to the general population, so check back once in a while and be the
first on the block to know what is coming.
This pamphlet is brought to you
by Houghton College Department of Safety and Security & The Office of Student
Life
It’s Deer Season in  Western
New York!
What does that mean to you?
As we enjoy the autumn season there are many festivities that we can all enjoy:
·
The rich
Homecoming traditions.
·
The amazing fall colors.
·
Thinking ahead to the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday season.
This is also the most popular hunting season.
We at Houghton College, in our rural setting, will see an increase in hunting
activity, particularly during the regular big game season in late November and
early December.
While accidents involving hunting are very rare
(especially for non hunters), it is still important to maintain a certain level
of awareness at this time of year.
The purpose of this pamphlet is to give you a perspective on this risk, and to
provide a bit of advice to follow which will help even further reduce the chance
of injury.
Houghton College does not allow guns on college lands. If
you see somebody with a gun on college property, please notify Safety and
Security. You will need to provide a specific location as some trails go
through lands not owned by Houghton College.
Bow hunting has a history of being virtually incident free.
According to the DEC, there have been nine injuries in New York State since 1974
(when they began keeping records) by a bow hunter discharging a bow. Most of
these were self inflicted with a few being other hunters injured. In no case
has a hiker been injured.
That being said, it would still be advisable to take the following precautions when spending time in the woodlands (especially during the firearm
season):
 |
Wear bright
colored clothing |
|
Have a cell
phone with you |
|
Walk with
somebody, or at least be sure friends know specifically where you are and
when to expect you back. |
Even if you twist an ankle (a far more likely event than a hunting accident),
it could be critical to be able to call for assistance and to have somebody who
will help you.
What else should I be concerned about this time
of year?
Deer mating season is October, November and December, and during this time they
are much more active and far less predictable.
According to the New
York DEC
·
Nearly
two-thirds of the 60,000 to 70,000 annual deer vehicle collisions in New
York State happen during the deer mating season (October, through December),
with most occurring between 6:30 and 7:30 AM and 4:30 and 6:30 PM.
When driving in areas where there are deer, it is wise to:
·
Use caution especially during
the dawn and dusk hours.
·
Be prepared for deer to
suddenly bolt across the road
·
If you see a deer, watch for
others; they often travel in groups.
·
Use flashers or flash
headlights to warn others if you see deer along the road.
Following are
some interesting statistics that may be both entertaining and informative:
Deer as Hazards:
Nationwide, more
people are killed by deer (ca. 100-150
per year,
in collisions with motor vehicles)
than are killed in hunting-related
shooting incidents (fewer than 100 fatal
hunting-related shootings, including self inflicted
accidents).
Each year in New York, over 1,000 people are injured in
deer-related highway
accidents. Such
collisions are most
common
where hunting is restricted. (New York DEC)
Struck by
Lightning:
A Significant Hazard? A
person who is not hunting is
45 times
more likely to be killed
by a bolt
of lightning than by a
hunter’s
bullet. (average U.S.
lightning deaths, 90 per year;
average
non-hunter deaths in
hunting
incidents, less than two
per year.)
- National Safety
Council figures, 1999.
|
Activity |
Participants |
Injuries |
Deaths |
|
Swimming |
59,500,000 |
83,772 |
1,500 |
|
Bicycling |
45,100,000 |
49,000 |
700 |
|
Hunting |
15,400,000 |
880 |
92 |
National Safety Council figures, 1999.
I Got a Parking Ticket!!
HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN TO A NICE PERSON LIKE ME?
NOW WHAT DO I DO?
Those dreadful little green tickets… stuck into the window molding of my
car… I was only parked illegally for a moment (well, okay, maybe for more than
just a moment)...
Maybe if I ignore the ticket it will go away…
Besides – I should be able to park anywhere I want…
If I am careful, the Security Department will never figure out that it was my
car…
AND OTHER FAMOUS (BUT UNTRUE) LEGENDS!
HERE ARE THE FACTS
1. If you get a ticket, please do not wait; COME TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
SAFETY AND SECURITY. We are reasonable people, and we desire to resolve
your ticket as quickly and painlessly as possible. If you fail to come see
us, the full cost of the ticket may be posted to your student account. You
do not want this to happen, and neither do we!
2. Parking permits can cost as little as twenty five dollars per year! One
ticket can cost much more than that.
3. Our goal is to get all students (and faculty/staff) to park in accordance
with college rules. Such order on campus benefits all people in our
college community.
4. Your Safety and Security Department has the resources to track down any
car owner, even if you do not have a permit.
5. Parking fines support the Student Emergency Fund.
6. For more information, stop in at the Department of Safety and Security
office, located on the main floor of the Campus Center. We are here to
serve you.
YOU'VE GOT MAIL!
We all love SURPRISES! (DON’T WE?)
Is there anyone out there who does not like to receive MAIL??
We all do!
Letters from family...
Letters from friends...
Our favorite magazines...
But when the Spring Semester ends and Summer Vacation begins, some students
will be receiving the type of letter at home that will not make them happy.
Yes, unfortunately there are students who will receive a bill from the college
that includes more than just September’s tuition. There will be an extra
bill tacked on due to unpaid parking tickets!
Oh, the sorrow, the anguish it will bring. It could ruin your whole
summer! And the worst part will be, it didn’t have to be that way.
Dealing with your parking tickets today will save you money tomorrow.
CONSIDER THE FACTS
1. If you contact us about your ticket(s), we will often slash the cost.
2. If we have to contact you, the cost will be full price.
3. We have the resources to track down the person who owns a vehicle that has no
college permit.
4. We will continue to bill out tickets even after the spring semester is over.
5. Many students have already had the price of parking tickets posted to their
student accounts because they ignored the problem.
Even if you think you cannot afford to pay a ticket, come talk to us at the
Department of Safety and Security. We are reasonable people who are here
to serve you; and we will gladly work with you to find a fair solution.
Weapons and Firearms
Another Informative Pamphlet from
THE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND SECURITY
Ray Parlett, Director
Campus ext. 3330
Or 567-9333
Houghton College has about as safe a campus as you will find anywhere in the
United States. Except for the occasional snowball fight (which is usually
entered into voluntarily by the parties involved), your chances of making it
through four years of school here without becoming a victim of a violent act are
excellent.
However, for various reasons, some students wish to bring certain weapons
and/or firearms to Houghton College. Most just enjoy getting out to hunt
deer or turkey or other game. Others still, enjoy getting out to target
practice.
While in most cases it is permissible to bring firearms or weapons to
Houghton, in order to insure the security of all students there are some sharp
restrictions that MUST BE FOLLOWED if you bring one.
Many of these restrictions are not just policies of Houghton College, but are
also New York State law; so please abide by them to the letter!
These rules are in effect for students who live in college-owned housing
(both on and off campus). Weapons and firearms may NOT be stored in cars,
and must be checked in with the Department of Safety and
Security, in the Campus Center:
Weapons are defined as, but are not
limited to the following:
· Any
weapon powered by pump action, including any BB gun
· Any
weapon powered by compressed air or CO2 cartridge
including all paint ball guns.
·
Any firearm, including black powder weapons
· Any
blowgun or similar weapon
· Any
type bow (archery)
· Any
Martial Arts weapon, (i.e. nun-chuks, throwing stars, throwing knives, etc.)
· Any
knife with a blade six (6) inches long or longer
· Any
knife with a double edged blade
When you have need of the stored weapon you may come to the Safety and
Security Office and check it out. The item must then be taken off campus
immediately.
It is strongly recommended that the only type of gun that anyone keep in
college-owned housing be a water pistol (with R.D. approval, of course!)
Cap guns are not recommended.
If you have questions concerning these policies contact the Houghton College
Department of Safety and Security for more information.
RESIDENCE HALL
AND CAMPUS SECURITY
HOW STUDENTS CAN HELP
Houghton College is one of the safest colleges in the United States.
The occurrence of crime is very low, year after year. However, there is
always the need to be vigilant. Even the remote chance that a crime may
occur should cause each student to take proper precautions. There are
several simple things you can do to keep yourself and the other students more
secure, both in the residence hall and on campus.
| When you see something or someone that looks suspicious, report it to your
hall staff or the Campus Safety and Security Department immediately. Dial
3330 from any campus phone and a Security Officer will respond promptly.
Do not confront a suspicious person yourself. |
| Lock your door when you leave your room, even if you are staying in the
building or are only going out for a short time. Most thefts are
crimes of opportunity; take care not to create such opportunities! |
| Do not prop open exterior doors in the residence hall that should remain
locked. Such an action affects the safety of all residents in the
building. A door propped open for a friend to get in will let anyone
in, including strangers who don’t belong there. |
| Secure your personal property that is not kept in residence halls.
Bicycles, musical instruments, laptop computers and other valuable property
can disappear without a trace if they are left in places where many people
can have access to them. Remember, the College cannot be responsible
for the loss or damage of personal property. |
| If your room key is lost or stolen, contact the Department of Safety
and Security promptly. We will change the locks to keep you and your
possessions secure. |
| Avoid walking, biking or jogging alone, especially at night. You can
significantly reduce the chance of becoming a victim of crime by using the
buddy system. As a safeguard, walk with at least one other person at
night. If you are in a building late at night, try to leave with
someone else rather than alone. |
| We strongly recommend that you do not lend out your room key or any
building keys with which you are entrusted. Do not put yourself in a
bad position of being responsible for someone else’s poor decisions or
thoughtless behavior. |
ABOUT YOUR SAFETY AND SECURITY DEPARTMENT…
| We are on duty twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. |
| All of our full time officers are New York State certified Security
Guards. |
| We can be reached from any campus phone by dialing 3330 (From off
campus dial 567-9333). |
| Our office is located on the main level of the Campus Center |
| For your convenience we maintain regularly scheduled office hours.
|
| We regularly patrol campus buildings, footpaths and parking lots,
both on foot and by car. |
| We patrol residence halls early in the A.M. hours, for your safety.
We take great care to guard student privacy in all matters in which we
become involved. |
| 
Policies
