Weapons Policy
Possession of any weapon is prohibited on college property and at college sponsored events. This policy applies to employees, students and individuals visiting or conducting business on college property.
For purposes of this policy, College property includes any property owned or leased by the College, including College owned vehicles. This policy also applies to off campus College sponsored events.
Weapon is defined as:
• Any device that shoots a bullet, pellet, flare, or any other projectile, whether loaded or unloaded, including those powered by CO2. This includes but is not limited to rifles, shotguns, handguns or other firearm, BB/pellet gun, flare gun, stun gun, air soft gun, dart gun, paintball gun and any ammunition for any such device. Any replica of the aforementioned is also prohibited.
• Any explosive device including fireworks, firecrackers, and black powder.
• Any device that is designed or traditionally used to inflict harm including but not limited to nun chucks, any knife with a blade longer than three inches, hunting knife, fixed blade knife, throwing knives, throwing stars, dagger, razor, or other cutting instrument the blade of which is exposed.
Weapons are not permitted to be stored on campus or in vehicles. Any weapon on campus in violation of this policy will be confiscated.
Violation of this policy by employees constitutes misconduct and may subject the offender to discipline including immediate termination.
Violation of this policy by students will be adjudicated in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. Depending on the circumstances violation of this policy may subject the offender to discipline up to and including dismissal from the College.
Violation of this policy by individuals visiting or conducting business on college property will result in the individual being required to leave the College property or event and may also result in the individual receiving a written directive to remain off college property.
The College may refer any violation of this policy to appropriate law enforcement authorities. Exceptions to this policy include.
• Any federal, state, or local law enforcement officer in the performance of his or her official duties.
• A weapon, real or replica, used in connection with drill, public ceremony, or a theatrical performance. Prior written approval must be obtained from the Director of Hilbert College Campus Safety.
• Prior written approval from the Director of Hilbert College Campus Safety and the Provost must be obtained when the weapon will be used in a college sanctioned academic course or activity.
Institutional Response to Reports of Missing Students
The term missing student shall refer to any Hilbert College student living on campus who is reported missing from his or her residence.
All reports of missing or suspected missing resident students should be reported to Campus Safety at 479-1233. Reports concerning missing commuters and off-campus students should be referred directly to the Town of Hamburg Police Department. The Campus Safety Office will assist internal authorities with these investigations as needed.
I. Campus Safety Office
A. Immediate Response
1.Campus Safety personnel will conduct a thorough and timely investigation with staff or individual reporting a missing student to determine the whereabouts of the person.
2.Campus Safety immediately will begin to interview those close to the missing person (e.g. friends,roommates, family, residence staff, etc.) and other relevant associates. Particular attention will be given to possible locations of the student and his/her most recent mental state and/or personal problems.
3.When the missing student is reported, Campus Safety will notify the Campus Safety Director and the Town of Hamburg Police Department by dialing (9-911); officers from the Town of Hamburg Police Department will be dispatched. The responding agency will ascertain the seriousness of the missing student report and act immediately to include, but not limited to, interviews and coordination of search efforts.
4.The Vice President of Student Affairs and Director of Campus Safety should be contacted immediately if a real or potential threat exists.
5.When law enforcement personnel arrive on campus, all college staff and students must cooperate with their investigation. Campus Safety will assist authorities in identifying parties needed for questioning.
B. Secondary Response
1.Campus Safety and the Vice President of Student Affairs will communicate with each other regarding any new developments related to the missing person report; the Vice President of Student Affairs will ensure that relevant parties are kept informed.
Proposed Plan: Reports of Missing Students
1.Information regarding the case will not be released publicly unless authorized by Hilbert College's Public Relations Directors/designee. All media inquiries should be directed to Public Relations/Vice President for Enrollment Management.
2.Campus Safety should obtain written statements from all complainants/witnesses pertaining to the report and have them available for review by officials involved in the investigation.
II. Residence Life Staff
A. Immediate Response
1.Staff should notify Campus Safety immediately at 716-479-1233. The reporter must give a concise and accurate account of what has been observed. He/she should wait in an area for further instructions from Campus Safety or the Vice President of Student Affairs.
2.When the Town of Hamburg Police Department officials are summoned to the residence hall, college personnel will cooperate fully with their investigation. Campus Safety will be available to assist the residence staff with any problems.
3.Reports/copies should be taken from any witness to the incident and delivered to the Campus Safety Office soon after the report is made.
4.If residents of the building involved are observed acting unusually concerned or irrationally, staff will consult with the Vice President of Student Affairs and the residence hall's senior staff to develop strategies to assist the residents.
B. Secondary Response
1.All media inquiries should be directed to Hilbert College Public Relations Office and/or the Dean of Students. Information needs to be disseminated to building residents, staff will be directed by the Vice President of Student Affairs to post updates or assemble the resident for a meeting.
III. The Dean of Students
A. Immediate Response
1.The Dean of Students will determine which personnel need to report and will summon them to campus.
2.In consultation with the Director of Campus Safety, the Vice President of Student Affairs will determine if a potential threat to the college community exists.
Proposed Plan: Reports of Missing Students
1.If deemed necessary, warnings from the Public Relations Office, in consort with the Vice President of Student Affairs may be issued to the community unless law enforcement believes that public notification may hinder their investigation. All releases will respect the privacy of victims, witnesses and the accused. The Vice President of Student Affairs will keep relevant parties informed and may set up an information hot line.
When police have determined that all leads to preliminarily locate the missing student have been exhausted and the whereabouts of the student remains unknown, the Dean of Students will contact the student's parents/guardians. The Vice President of Student Affairs will inform the President.
Secondary Response
Upon return of the missing student, the Vice President for Enrollment Management will consult with the student due to concerns raised by their absence.
When the situation has been stabilized, the Vice President of Student Affairs will coordinate internal and external information releases with Hilbert College Public Relations Director or designee. Only the Public Relations Office or the Dean of Students may release details of the student's status to
the media or other external parties.