Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

All universities in the United States receiving any 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.

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 obu.edu/tigerhandbook. The section “General University Policies” begins on page 22 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.

Campus Safety and Emergency Management facilitates a safe and secure university environment by responding quickly and effectively to needs for assistance, ensuring that university standards are upheld, and consistently monitoring university buildings, grounds, and activities. The Office of Campus Safety and Emergency Management administratively reports to Dr. Rickey Rogers, vice president for student development.

The Office of Campus Safety and Emergency Management is located in Evans Student Center. Each building on campus has a closing time established by its building manager. The officer on duty completes a routine checklist of buildings. Provisions for exceptions are made through the Office of Student Life in Evans Student Center (870-245-5539). Incident reports are filed as needed by Campus Safety and Emergency Management 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. Individuals should promptly and accurately report any suspected crime to the Office of Campus Safety and Emergency Management or a law enforcement agency.

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

Since its founding in 1886, Ouachita Baptist University has prohibited the use by students of alcoholic beverages or unlawful use of controlled substances 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 its students and employees can best function without 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 on 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 and 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 warnings to probation to suspension from the university. When suspension is not warranted, Student Development 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 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 in Evans Student Center.

Ouachita Baptist University prohibits all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual misconduct, abuse, assault, and exploitation. The university is committed to establishing a safe, Christ-centered learning community and is committed to addressing all forms of sexual misconduct to achieve this goal.

For the purpose of the following section, consent is defined as the affirmative, unambiguous, and voluntary agreement to engage in a specific sexual activity during a sexual encounter. Consent cannot be given by an individual who is asleep or mentally or physically incapacitated, either through the effect of drugs or alcohol or for any other reason; or is under duress, threat, coercion, or force; or inferred under circumstances in which consent is not clear, including but not limited to the absence of “no” or “stop”; or the existence of a prior or current relationship or sexual activity.

• Dating Violence: Violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the length and type of relationship and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved. Dating violence can be a single event or a pattern of behavior that includes, but is not limited to, sexual or physical abuse; it does not include acts covered under the definition of domestic violence.
• Domestic Violence: A crime of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim; by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common; or by a person against an individual who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred. It can be a single event or a pattern of behavior that includes, but is not limited to, sexual or physical abuse.
• Retaliation: Intimidating, threatening, coercing, or in any way discriminating against an individual because of the individual’s informal or formal complaint or participation in a school or OCR investigation or proceedings related to sexual violence or other civil rights concerns.
• Sex Offenses: Any sexual act directed against another person without the victim's consent, including instances where the victim cannot consent. Included acts are rape, sodomy, sexual assault, sexual assault with an object, fondling, incest, or statutory rape, as defined by the Federal Bureau of Investigation UCR (Uniform Crime Reporting Handbook) guidelines. 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 difficult to prove without physical evidence from an immediate physician’s exam.
• Sexual Exploitation: Taking advantage of the sexuality and attractiveness of a person to make a personal gain or profit. It is the abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust for sexual purposes.
• Stalking: Engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety or the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress. Such a course of conduct would mean two or more acts, including, but not limited to, acts in which the stalker directly, indirectly, or through third parties, by any action, method, device, or means, follows, monitors, observes, surveils, threatens, or communicates to or about, a person, or interferes with a person’s property.

Ouachita Baptist University is committed to establishing a safe, Christ-centered learning community and is committed to addressing all forms of unlawful harassment and discrimination to achieve this goal. The University’s Sexual Misconducts Policy outlines the University’s community expectations to ensure a campus free from sexual misconduct, the steps for recourse for those individuals whose rights have been violated, and the procedures for determining a violation of University policy related to sexual misconduct. It also provides information about the resources available to those affected by sexual misconduct. The Sexual Misconduct Policy applies to the following forms of sex discrimination, which are referred to collectively as “sexual misconduct”: sexual or gender-based harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual exploitation. Allegations of sex discrimination that do not involve sexual misconduct will be handled in accordance with the “Harassment” section of the Tiger Handbook. The Sexual Misconduct Policy applies to all University community members, including students, faculty, administrators, staff, trustees, volunteers, vendors, independent contractors, visitors, and any individuals regularly or temporarily employed, studying, living, visiting, conducting business or having any official capacity with the University or on University property. The University will not tolerate sexual misconduct in any form. The University will promptly and equitably respond to all reports of sexual misconduct to eliminate the misconduct, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects on any individual or the community. For more information, see the full Sexual Misconduct Policy please click on OBU Sexual Misconduct Policy

Inquiries or complaints regarding Title IX, sex discrimination, sexual harassment, or other forms of sexual misconduct may be directed to:
Christa Neal, University’s Title IX Coordinator, [email protected] 870 245 4896. BPBB 131.

In case of emergency or for immediate assistance, call 911 to reach local law enforcement or 870-246-4545 to reach Campus Safety & Emergency Management 870 245 4000. Students and employees should report criminal offenses to make timely warning reports and for the annual statistical disclosure required by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. The university or an officer, employee or agent of an institution may not retaliate, intimidate, threaten, coerce, or otherwise discriminate against any individual for exercising their rights or responsibilities.

When reporting an incident of possible sexual assault or exploitation, victims, intervening bystanders, or corroborating witnesses will be provided amnesty (immunity from university sanctions/punishment) in situations that involve alcohol or drug use. Amnesty is provided to ensure that no sexual assault incident goes unreported due to fear of sanctions for alcohol or drug use.

Ouachita currently has no off-campus housing or facilities (except an uninhabited storage building facility). All off-campus student events officially recognized by the institution are coordinated through the Office of Student Life. Each event is required to have an employed university faculty/staff member present and the option of a hired off-duty law enforcement officer. Local law enforcement is notified in advance of each event.

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 Safety and Emergency Management, Vice President of Student Development, Assistant to the President for IT Services and Facilities Management, 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. Brandon Tollett, Director of Safety and Emergency Management, ESC, 870-245-4258 or 870-245-4000
• Mr. Tim Harrell, Dean of Students, ESC, 870-245-5225
• Dr. Rickey Rogers, Vice President for Student Development, ESC, 870-245-5221

A record of crimes reported to Campus Safety is maintained in the Office of Campus Safety & Emergency Management 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 Campus Safety & Emergency Management. Older logs will be made available upon request within two business days.

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:
Arkansas Department of Public Safety

All new students must complete an online learning and assessment program on sexual assault and its prevention. This presentation covers safe and positive steps an individual may take to prevent harm or intervene when there is a risk of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking against another person. The presentation also includes information about recognizing situations of potential harm, overcoming barriers to intervening, identifying safe and effective intervention options, and taking action, such as reporting incidents to appropriate authorities.

During freshman orientation, there was a special session dedicated to sexual assault by the child advocacy center in Arkadelphia AR. Resources and educational materials were provided to students. The pregnancy resource center provides information to the campus community regarding resources that are available in the Arkadelphia community.

“All students, faculty, and staff were mandated to engage in a sexual assault protection and prevention training program developed by Lathrop GPM, our Title IX attorneys, using their trainED professionally developed training package. In addition, the Title IX coordinator provided face-to-face training for all ROTC cadets. The Title IX Coordinator, Investigators, Adjudicators, and others with heightened responsibilities had to complete annual training for compliance with our institution’s Annual Security report mandate.”

“The staff in the university counselor’s office also provided individualized assistance on an as needed basis to students throughout the academic year.”

Ongoing prevention and awareness campaigns will be offered annually to the entire student body. These presentations will cover safe and positive steps an individual may take to prevent harm or intervene when there is a risk of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking against another person. The presentations will also include information about recognizing situations of potential harm, overcoming barriers to intervening, identifying safe and effective intervention options, and taking action, such as reporting incidents to appropriate authorities. Examples of special programs include Sexual Violence Awareness Month, the What Were You Wearing exhibit on campus in April, Bystander Intervention Training and Alcohol and Drug Use Awareness.

Ouachita Baptist University has implemented the multilayered RAVE Alert 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 RAVE Alert. 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 e-mail, text messaging, loudspeakers, and designated telephones in residence director apartments and certain faculty and staff offices.

While the RAVE Alert is designed to reduce the probability of harm to campus students, employees, and guests, no system can ensure the safety of persons on campus. Rather, this represents the university’s efforts to exercise reasonable care in the face of an emergency situation. The RAVE Alert is tested at least once per year. These annual tests are coordinated by the Office of Campus Safety and Emergency Management, Administrative Services, and Student Development personnel. A description of the exercise, the date and time, and whether it was announced or unannounced is maintained on file in the Office of Campus Safety and Emergency Management. Office of Campus Safety and Emergency Management procedures will be publicized with at least one test per calendar year.

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 RAVE Alert. Other members of the Administrative Council may be consulted when appropriate. The individual who initiates the activation of the RAVE Alert is responsible for determining the content of the notification.

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 coordinating 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. Brandon Tollett, Director of Safety and Emergency Management, ESC, 870-245-4258 or 870-245-4000
• Dr. Rickey Rogers, Vice President for Student Development, ESC, 870-245-5221
• Mr. Tim Harrell, Dean of Students, ESC, 870-245-5225
• Mr. Jonathon Hughes, Director of Physical Plant, PP, 870-245-5189

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 6th 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 4th Street to Caddo Street and includes the following parking areas:

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

Zone 3 – Exits south following Ouachita Street to 6th 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:

• Tollett 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 of 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.

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

A parent or guardian will be notified when a missing student 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 Development in writing in advance that he or she prefers the parent or guardian not be notified if the student is deemed to be missing. Such written notification should be submitted to the Student Development office in Evans Student Center.

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

When a student is thought by a reporting person to be missing, personnel from Student Development 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 will be 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 notify one of the persons or offices below immediately:

• Mr. Brandon Tollett, Director of Safety and Emergency Management, ESC, 870-245-4258 or 870-245-4000
• Dr. Rickey Rogers, Vice President for Student Development, ESC, 870-245-5221
• Mr. Tim Harrell, Dean of Students, ESC, 870-245-5225

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 burglary classification) also are not subject to inclusion in the report.

In counting crimes when more than one offense was committed during a single incident, an institution must conform to the requirements of the Hierarchy Rule in the UCR Reporting Handbook, with one exception. In reporting incidents of sexual assault, the Hierarchy Rule does not apply. For example, if a victim is both raped and murdered in a single incident, then an institution must include both the rape and the murder in its statistics.
A hate crime is defined as a crime reported to local police agencies or to a campus security authority that manifests evidence that the victim was intentionally selected because of the perpetrator’s bias against the victim. For the purposes of this section, the bases for the determination of a hate crime are race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity/national origin, and disability.

The collection and publication of the Annual Security Report is the responsibility of Dr. Rickey Rogers, Vice President for Student Development. If you have questions concerning the annual report, please contact Dr. Rogers by email at [email protected] or by phone at 870-245-5220.

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, Tollett, Suzie Everett, and Georgia Hickingbotham 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. Stone, Pine Square, Caddo Place, Lancelot, and Starlight Apartments have 110v with 9v battery backup smoke detectors. Fire drills are conducted regularly, with at least one occurring for each housing unit each year.

Portable electrical appliances are allowed in campus housing, except those with an open heating coil or flame. Halogen lamps, candles, and incense are prohibited. Smoking is not allowed in any university building, including student housing facilities.

Housing staff members, including Resident 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. A building resident with a disability that impairs mobility, vision, or hearing will be noted on the list. Individualized evacuation plans and/or responsible persons will be designated for such situations.

When smoke or fire is noticed, the nearest alarm should be pulled, and 911 should be called. The Office of Campus Safety and Emergency Management 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. Resident Directors and RAs are responsible for notifying the residents of the need to leave the building. If the alarm is positively deemed false, the evacuation may be halted, and residents may return to their rooms.

Resident Directors and/or RAs will notify emergency personnel if a serious fire or other emergency seems to exist.

A location outside each housing facility is designated as the meeting place for residents from the hall. This designated meeting place is communicated by the Resident Director to residents throughout the year. Upon the arrival of emergency personnel and in the existence of an actual fire emergency, the Resident Director, Resident assistants(RAs), and apartment managers(AM) will immediately leave any alert or rescue efforts to the trained personnel. No person may reenter the building until emergency personnel give permission to do so.

Fire safety education and information will be provided to faculty and staff upon request to Student Development 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. Brandon Tollett, Director of Safety and Emergency Management, ESC, 870-245-4258 or 870-245-4000
• Mr. Jonathon Hughes, Director of Physical Plant, PP, 870-245-5189

Beginning with calendar year 2013, a record of fires on campus is maintained in the Student Development 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 the Department of Education’s web-based data collection system for each housing facility. The number of 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.