The Law

All colleges and universities in the United States receiving any type of federal student aid must prepare and distribute to all students, faculty, and staff members their campus safety policies and procedures and statistics concerning certain crimes and fires that may have occurred.

Ouachita Policies

The statement of policies of the university is published annually in the Tiger Handbook for students and in the University Faculty/Staff Manual for employees. The Tiger Handbook is available at http://tigernet.obu.edu/tigerhandbook/TigerHandbook12web.pdf. The section, “Acts, Laws, and University Policies” begins on page 23 of the handbook. The University Faculty/Staff Manual is available to employees and prospective employees upon request from the Administrative Services office in Cone-Bottoms Hall, telephone 870-245-5410.

Services

The university, through a contract relationship with Securitas Security Services USA, provides services through the Office of Campus Safety. Campus Safety works to facilitate a safe and secure university environment by responding quickly and effectively to needs for assistance, through ensuring that university standards are upheld, and by consistent monitoring of university buildings, grounds and activities. The Office of Campus Safety administratively reports to Dr. Wesley Kluck, Vice President for Student Services, and Dr. Brett Powell, Vice President for Administrative Services.

The Office of Campus Safety is located in Evans Student Center. A uniformed safety officer is on duty on campus continuously. Safety officers do not possess arrest power; criminal incidents are referred to the local police or another law enforcement entity with jurisdiction on the campus.

Each building on campus has a closing time established by its building manager. The safety officer on duty completes a routine checklist of buildings. Provisions for exceptions are made through the Campus Activities Office in Evans Student Center (870-245-5539).

Incident reports are filed as needed by safety officers concerning problems related to lighting, unauthorized visitors, etc.

Each member of the university community is encouraged to act responsibly, to take safety precautions, and to be aware of the safety of others. Any individual should promptly and accurately report any suspected crime to the Office of Campus Safety or a law enforcement agency (contact information is below).

Every resident student is urged to keep his/her room door locked, to mark personal property, and to record serial numbers of items of significant. Crime prevention and safety information is offered periodically to groups through new student orientation and in residence hall programming or meetings. Upon request, this information will also be offered to student organizations, classes, or other groups or individuals.

Alcohol and Illegal Drugs

Since its founding in 1886, Ouachita Baptist University has prohibited the use by students of alcoholic beverages or unlawful use of controlled substances either on or off campus.

The university intends to fully comply with the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989 (PL 101-226). The university believes that its students and employees can best function when they are free of any mind-altering substances. Its goals are to provide an environment where the campus is aware of the health and safety risks of alcohol and drug use; to discourage by every means possible use of alcohol and illegal drugs; and to provide confidential and redemptive help to students and employees who seek assistance.

The possession, consumption, manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase or distribution of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs by any individual or group either on campus or off campus is prohibited. It is also a violation for anyone to possess, use, or be intoxicated or impaired in normal mental and/or physical functioning due to the use of alcohol or other drugs. Such actions may be subject to law enforcement involvement as well as campus disciplinary action. Any student who is arrested for alcohol or drug related offenses may be subject to discipline under university policies.

Disciplinary sanctions for first offense violations range from probation to suspension from the university. When suspension is not warranted, Student Services personnel will meet with the student and will administer an objective screening instrument designed to assess the student’s level of risk. The student will be charged a fee for the screening instrument and assessment. Based on the results, an individualized 30-day Response Plan consisting of educational activities concerning alcohol and substance abuse will be developed. Students considered to be at high-risk may be required to engage in further activities, including personal counseling. Repeated violations or failure to complete the Response Plan may result in suspension.

Illegal drug paraphernalia or alcoholic beverage containers, including those that are empty, are not allowed in the residence halls/campus apartments or anywhere on campus; alcoholic beverage or other drug logos on clothing, posters, etc., are also prohibited. Violation of this regulation by a group may result in the revocation of the organization’s charter and suspension of individual students involved.

Parents and/or guardians will be informed of any drug or alcohol violation if the student is under 21 years of age.

Drug and alcohol abuse informa­tion is available through Counseling Services or Health Services. The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT), a student organization, provides informational programming on campus.

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is defined as rape, acquain tance rape, or other forcible or non-forcible sex offense. Ouachita Baptist University promotes awareness of the societal problem of sexual assault through the provision of written materials and educational programs on this topic.

If a sexual assault occurs, the student should go to the nearest medical emergency room immediately following the incident and before bathing or changing clothes, so that injuries can be attended and potential evidence gathered. Such crimes are very difficult to prove without the physical evidence provided by an immediate physician’s exam.

Students may contact the local police, the campus safety officer, and/or personnel in the Office of Student Services. Campus officials will upon request assist the student with contacting appropriate local law enforcement authorities and will assist the student in accessing sexual assault victims’ services. If the student reports to law enforcement, the student will retain the option of pressing charges immediately, at a later date, or not at all. The filing of criminal or civil charges against the alleged offender will not preclude disciplinary action by the university.

Students who have experienced sexual assault may feel the need for personal counseling. Free counseling services are provided on campus by a licensed professional counselor. Those preferring off-campus counseling services will be assisted in locating such resources by university personnel. Costs of off-campus counseling will be the responsibility of the student.

A student who has alleged a sexual assault may, based on safety or emotional concerns, request a change in academic or living situations. Such requests will be met when reasonably available. Changes may include transfer to a different section of a course; permission to withdraw from a course without penalty; and/or reassignment to a different residence hall or room.

In cases of sexual offense allegations involving students, both the accuser and the accused are entitled to have another student(s) present during institutional hearings related to the charges. However, other persons may not take a representational role for either the accuser or the accused. Both the accuser and the accused will be informed of any institutional disciplinary outcome concerning an alleged sexual assault.

Sanctions imposed for disciplinary purposes by the university regarding sexual assault may include suspension or expulsion from the university.

Counseling Available

The university has a professional counselor who is available, free of charge, to assist members of the university community with personal problems, crises, and emergencies. The university counselor, Mr. Dan Jarboe, can be contacted at 870-245-5591. Referrals to outside agencies or other resources for professional counseling will be provided when appropriate or requested.

Reporting Crimes and Other Emergencies

Any student or employee is urged to call the Office of Campus Safety, the Office of Student Services, the Arkadel­phia Police Department, or the Clark County Sheriff’s Office to report any crime or activity that seems to be criminal in nature.

The telephone number and address (or location on campus) of each is below:

• OBU Campus Safety   870-245-4000   Evans Student Center    Mr. Terry Eubanks, Director
• Student Services         870-245-5220    Evans Student Center    Mr. Scott Haynes, Dean of Students
• Arkadelphia Police Department     870-246-4545   700 Clay Street      Chief Al Harris
• Clark County Sheriff’s Office      870-246-2222    406 South 5^th Street       Sheriff Jason Watson

Students and employees should report criminal offenses for the purpose of making timely warning reports and for the annual statistical disclosure required by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.

Confidential Reporting Procedures

If you are a victim of a crime but do not wish to pursue action either within the university disciplinary process or the criminal justice system, you may still wish to consider making a confidential report. With your permission, any of the following individuals can file a report on the details of the incident without revealing your identity. The purpose of a confidential 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 university can keep an accurate record of the number of incidents involving students, determine where there is a pattern of crime with regard to a particular location, method, or assailant, and alert the campus community to potential danger. Reports filed in this manner will be counted and disclosed in the annual crimes statistics for the institution. The staff members listed below are encouraged to inform persons they are counseling of these procedures when deemed appropriate.

• Counseling Services   870-245-5591   Evans Student Center   Mr. Dan Jarboe, LPC
• Health Services  870-245-5244   Evans Student Center   Mrs. Molly Wallace, RN
• Human Resources    870-245-5410    Cone-Bottoms Hall    Mrs. Sherri Phelps, Director
• Campus Ministries    870.245.5537     Evans Student Center    Mr. James Taylor, Director and Ms. Kendall Calvert, Asst. Director

Victim Services

A comprehensive listing of victim services available in the area, including sex offender victim services, is maintained on the website of the Arkansas Crime Information Center at: http://www.acic.org/

University staff members listed above will assist members of the university community in locating and accessing victim services when requested.

Campus Crime Alerts

If a report of a violent crime against a person or a major crime against property on campus represents a severe, ongoing threat to the safety of members of the university community, the Director of Campus Safety, Dean of Students, Vice President for Administrative Services, or Vice President for Communications or other authority will issue a crime alert.

Crime alerts may be distributed by e-mail, letter/memorandum, posted in areas frequented by students, included in other university publications, or otherwise distributed. The Ouachita Emergency Notification System may be utilized. The release of a crime alert will be subject to the availability of facts concerning the incident.

The telephone number/location of those authorized to issue crime alerts on the campus is below:

• Mr. Terry Eubanks, Director of Campus Safety, ESC, 870-245-4000
• Mr. Scott Haynes, Dean of Students, ESC, 870-245-5220
• Dr. Brett Powell, Vice President for Administrative Services, CB330, 870-245-5410
• Mr. Trennis Henderson, Vice President for Communications, Lile Hall 238, 870-245-5206

Daily Crime Log

A record of crimes reported to Campus Safety is maintained in the Office of Student Services in Evans Student Center. The log includes the nature of the crime, the date the crime was reported and the date and time it occurred, the general location of the crime, and the disposition of the complaint, if known. The university reserves the right to temporarily withhold information in some cases if there is clear and convincing evidence that the release of information would jeopardize an ongoing investigation; jeopardize the safety of an individual; cause a suspect to flee or evade detection; or, result in the destruction of evidence. The log for the most recent 60-day period is available for public inspection during normal business hours in the Office of Student Services. Older logs will be made available upon request within two business days.

Sex Offenders

Law enforcement agency information concerning registered sex offenders provided by the State of Arkansas through the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 is available by accessing the website of the Arkansas Crime Information Center at:

http://www.acic.org/

Emergency Response

Ouachita Baptist University has implemented the multilayered Ouachita Emergency Notification System (OENS) for the campus community.

Upon confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees, the campus community will be notified through the OENS. Campus authorities will, without delay and taking into account the safety of the community, determine the content of the notification and initiate the notification system, unless the notification will, in the professional judgment of responsible authorities, compromise efforts to assist victims or to contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the emergency.

Notifications will provide information on the nature of the emergency and the appropriate action one should take. The notification methods that may be used are email; text messaging; loudspeakers; designated telephones in hall director apartments and certain faculty and staff offices; and flash announcements on computers connected to the university network.

When uncertain that a significant emergency exists and when time allows, at least two of the campus authorities listed below will confer and determine whether or not to activate the OENS. Other members of the President’s Cabinet may be consulted when appropriate. The individual who initiates the activation of the OENS is responsible for determining the content of the notification.

While the Ouachita Emergency Notification System is designed to reduce the probability of harm to campus students, employees, and guests, no system can insure the safety of persons on campus. Rather, this represents the university’s efforts to exercise reasonable care in the face of an emergency situation.

To receive notification by text message, members of the university community must provide cell phone information to the I.T. Services Office. Students may enroll in OENS by logging in to the portal account at info.obu.edu and entering or confirming the cell phone provider and cell phone number listed. Individuals may choose to opt out of the text messaging portion of the notification system.

The OENS is tested at least once per year. These annual tests are coordinated by Campus Safety, Administrative Services, and Student Services personnel. A description of the exercise as well as the date and time of the exercise and whether it was announced or unannounced is maintained on file in the Student Services office. Campus Safety procedures will be publicized in conjunction with at least one test per calendar year.

When appropriate, emergency information will be disseminated to the larger community through local and state media sources including newspaper, radio, and television, as well as through the university’s website (www.obu.edu). The Office of Communications is responsible for the coordination of such efforts and may be contacted at 870.245.5206 or in Lile Hall 238.

The telephone number/location of those authorized to issue emergency notifications on the campus is below:

• Mr. Terry Eubanks, Director of Campus Safety, ESC, 870-245-4000
• Mr. Scott Haynes, Dean of Students, ESC, 870-245-5220
• Dr. Brett Powell, Vice President for Administrative Services, CB330, 870-245-5410
• Mr. John Hardman, Director of Physical Plant, PP, 870-245-5189

Evacuation Procedures

In the event of a required evacuation of the entire Ouachita campus or portions thereof, the vehicular evacuation plan will be followed. The plan is designed to allow the fastest possible evacuation from campus with the least amount of confusion by segregating the campus into five zones and directing those zones to the nearest public street exiting the campus. The plan is also designed to limit the amount of cross traffic and the potential for vehicles to interfere with emergency vehicle access.

Zone 1 – Exits south following 6^th Street to Pine Street and includes the following parking areas:

• Cone Bottoms/Commons lot (104 spaces)
• Cone Bottoms West lot (18 spaces)
• Frances Crawford lot (47 spaces)
• Flippen-Perrin lot (140 spaces)
• Maddox South and West lots (120)
• Verser/JPAC lot (114)

Zone 2 – Exits south following 4^th Street to Caddo Street and includes the following parking areas:

• 5^th Street/Ouachita Street (48)
• Jones Science Center lot (92)
• Anthony lot/4^th Street (55)

Zone 3 – Exits south following Ouachita Street to 6^th Street then Pine Street and includes the following parking areas:

• Ouachita Street near Lile Hall (33)
• O.C. Bailey lots (134)
• Mabee/McClellan lots (43)
• Ouachita Street near McClellan (11)
• Walker lot (16 spaces)

Zone 4  – Exits west following University drive and includes the following parking areas:

• Frances Crawford lower lot and west lot (110 spaces)
• Triangle lot (45 spaces)
• Gosser lot (200 spaces)

Zone 5 – Exits north following Elrod Boulevard and includes the following parking areas:

• Village East lot (250 spaces)
• Elrod Blvd lot (210 spaces)
• Sturgis lot (120 spaces)

A full evacuation of the Ouachita campus would be initiated only in rare and extreme situations due to the problems inherent in evacuating 1,500 – 1,800 vehicles. If a partial evacuation of specific buildings or areas of the campus occurs, those areas will evacuate based on the routes designated for the zone in which they are located. Notification to evacuate will be initiated through activation of the Ouachita Emergency Notification System and other means of communication as necessary. The evacuation plan will be distributed to all students, faculty and staff periodically to maintain high awareness of the evacuation routes.

Missing Student Notification

A Ouachita Baptist University residential student who is unaccounted for and absent for a period of 24 hours or longer without any known reason may be deemed to be missing. The Vice President for Student Services or designee is responsible for determining whether a student is missing. Campus Safety and local law enforcement with jurisdiction in the area will be immediately notified that a student is missing in every instance once the determination has been made.

A parent or guardian will be notified when a student who is missing is less than 18 years of age and not emancipated. A parent or guardian will be notified in all other cases unless the student has notified the Vice President for Student Services in writing in advance that he or she prefers the parent or guardian not be notified in the event that the student is deemed to be missing. Such written notification should be submitted to the Student Services office in Evans Student Center.

Each student living in Ouachita housing has the option to register a confidential contact person to be notified in the case that the student is determined to be missing. Only authorized campus officials and law enforcement officers in furtherance of a missing person investigation may have access to this information if a confidential contact person is registered by the student. To do so, contact Student Services at 870.245.5220.

When a student is thought by a reporting person to be missing, personnel from Student Services and Campus Safety will gather essential information. The student’s acquaintances, family, and friends may be interviewed. Appropriate campus staff will be contacted and their assistance requested to aid in searching for the student. The student’s campus ID photo may be disseminated to assist in identifying the missing student and card access logs may be analyzed. Other campus computer resources may be checked for student logins or email usage.

Ouachita Baptist University reserves the right to implement these procedures in less than 24 hours if circumstances warrant a faster implementation.

If an individual is concerned that a fellow student might be missing or otherwise be in danger, he or she is encouraged to immediately notify one of the persons or offices below:

• Mr. Terry Eubanks, Director of Campus Safety, ESC, 870-245-4000
• Mr. Scott Haynes, Dean of Students, ESC, 870-245-5220

Annual Security Report

Ouachita Baptist University compiles an Annual Security Report. This report includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Ouachita Baptist University; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report uses the Federal Bureau of Investigation UCR (Uniform Crime Reporting Handbook) guidelines for each report classification. Offenses occurring off-campus generally are not subject to inclusion on Ouachita’s report. Thefts (unless the circumstances meet the UCR criteria for the classification of burglary) also are not subject to inclusion on the report. Local police crime statistics were not available for this reporting period.

The collection and publication of the Annual Security Report is the responsibility of Mr. Scott Haynes, Dean of Students. If you have questions concerning the annual report, please contact Mr. Haynes by email at hayness@obu.edu or by phone at 870-245-5220.

2011~ There were no reported hate crimes.
2010~ There were no reported hate crimes.
2009~ There were no reported hate crimes.

Fire Safety Procedures

As defined by the Higher Education Opportunity Act, for the purposes of fire safety reporting, a fire is, “Any instance of open flame or other burning in a place not intended to contain the burning or in an uncontrolled manner.”

Each housing facility owned or controlled by Ouachita Baptist University is equipped with a fire safety system. Anthony, Maddox, Gosser, East Village, Westside One, and Westside Two Halls are equipped with a sprinkler system with hardwired heat and smoke detectors and central alarms. O.C. Bailey, Crawford, and Flippen/Perrin Halls have hardwired heat and smoke detectors with central alarms. Pine Square, Caddo Place, Lancelot, Starlight, OBU, and Riverwalk Apartments have 110v with 9v battery backup smoke detectors.

Fire drills are conducted on a regular basis, with at least one occurring for each housing unit each year.

Portable electrical appliances are allowed in campus housing except those that have an open heating coil or open flame. Halogen lamps, candles, and incense are prohibited.

Smoking is not allowed in any university building, including student housing facilities.

Housing staff members, including hall directors and resident assistants (RAs), will maintain an accurate listing of all students living in the building and the location of each person’s room. Copies of the lists for all floors will also be provided to each RA in the building. In the event of an evacuation, the lists will be used to determine whether individuals may still be in the building. A resident of the building who has a disability that impairs mobility, vision, or hearing will be noted on the list. Individualized evacuation plans and/or responsible person will be designated for such situations.

When smoke or fire is noticed, the nearest alarm should be pulled and 911 should be called. Campus Safety should also be notified at 870-245-4000.

When fire is suspected (alarm, smoke, etc.) or in the event of a bomb threat or other potentially life-threatening incident, the entire building must be evacuated. Elevators are not to be used with a possibility of fire exists. Hall directors and RAs are responsible for notifying the residents of the need to leave the building. If the alarm is positively determined to be a false alarm, the evacuation may be halted and residents may return to their rooms.

If a serious fire or other emergency seems to exist, hall directors and/or RAs will notify emergency personnel.

Hall directors and RAs will make room-to-room efforts to alert the residents of the necessity of evacuating the building until such time as their own safety becomes compromised.

A location outside each housing facility is designated as the meeting place for residents from the hall in order to facilitate the checking of occupant lists. This designated meeting place is communicated by the hall director to residents at times throughout the year.

Upon the arrival of emergency personnel and in the existence of an actual fire emergency, the hall director and RAs will immediately leave any alert or rescue efforts to the trained personnel.

No person may reenter the building until emergency personnel give permission for doing so.

Fire safety education and training programs will be provided to faculty and staff upon request to Student Services or Administrative Services. New student orientation and residence hall programs periodically provide fire safety education to students.

The telephone numbers/locations of those to whom reports of a fire on the campus should be reported (after emergency personnel have been summoned if appropriate) are below:

• Mr. Terry Eubanks, Director of Campus Safety, ESC, 870-245-4000
• Mr. John Hardman, Director of Physical Plant, PP, 870-245-5189

Fire Safety Statistics and Documentation

Beginning with calendar year 2009, a record of fires on campus is maintained in the Student Services office in Evans Student Center. It includes for each fire the nature of the fire, the date and time it occurred, and the general location of the fire. The most recent 60-day period is open to public inspection upon request during normal business hours. Older portions of the log will be made available within two business days of a request for public inspection. The log will be maintained for three years following the publication of the last annual report to which it applies.

Statistics will be collected and reported annually in a fire safety report and in the Department of Education’s web-based data collection system for each housing facility. The number fires and the cause of each fire will be categorized as unintentional (cooking; smoking materials; open flames; electrical; heating equipment; hazardous products; machinery/industrial; natural; other), Intentional, or undetermined. The number of deaths related to fires, the number of injuries related to fires resulting in treatment in a medical facility, and the value of property damage related to fires will be recorded.

ANNUAL FIRE SAFETY REPORT

*Opened August, 2010