Texas Christian University Police Department Annual Security And Fire Safety Report 2014

Transcription

1 Texas Christian University Police Department Annual Security And Safety Report 2014

2 2

3 Equal Opportunity Policy Texas Christian University subscribes to a policy of equal opportunity. The University believes that commitment to principles of fairness and respect for all helps create a climate that is favorable to the free and open exchange of ideas, and the University seeks to reach out as widely as possible in order to attract the ablest individuals as students, faculty, and staff. For these reasons, decisions concerning admission to University academic and other programs, as well as employment decisions in all University departments and offices, are made on the basis of an individual s qualifications to contribute to meeting Texas Christian University s educational objectives and its institutional needs. TCU prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ethnic origin, disability, genetic information, covered veteran status, and any other basis protected by law. In addition to the general policy just defined, Texas Christian University has specific legal obligations as a recipient of federal financial assistance and as a federal contractor. These obligations include the development and implementation of a plan to undertake appropriate forms of affirmative action to employ women, people of color, people with disabilities, and protected veterans. Texas Christian University s affirmative action plan is available to employees and job applicants upon request for review at the University. The University Chancellor and Provost are responsible for overseeing the implementation of this equal opportunity policy and the affirmative action plan. The Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs is responsible for monitoring University practices and procedures to ensure compliance with our policy and federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title IX of the Education Amendments of Inquiries regarding these matters should be directed to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, PO Box , Texas Christian University,

4 Nondiscrimination Statement In compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other federal, state, and local laws, TCU prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ethnic origin, disability, genetic information, covered veteran status, and any other basis protected by law, in any phase of its employment process, in any phase of its admission or financial aid programs, or other aspects of its educational programs or activities. The Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs is the individual designated by the University to coordinate its efforts to comply with Title IX, Section 504 and other equal opportunity and affirmative action regulations and laws. Questions or concerns regarding Title IX, Section 504 or other aspects of Texas Christian University s equal opportunity or affirmative action programs should be directed to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, PO Box , Texas Christian University,

5 Table of Contents Annual Security Report Helpful Numbers 7 From the Chief 8 The TCU Police Department 9 Our Mission and Values 11 Our Police Authority and Jurisdiction 12 TCUPD Responses to calls for services 13 Crime reporting procedures 13 Pastoral Care/Counselor Reporting Procedures 14 Voluntary Confidential Reporting 14 Criminal activity at off-campus organizations 15 What to do if you are a victim of a crime 15 Contacting the TCU Police Department 16 Emergency blue light phones 17 Lost and Found 17 Emergency Preparedness 18 Shuttle Service 19 Bicycle Registration 19 The Campus Security Act (also known as the Clery Act) 20 Who is responsible for the Annual Security and Safety report? 20 Timely warning notices, Campus Crime Alerts 21 Distribution of Campus Crime Alerts 22 Clery Required Daily Crime Log 22 Notification to the community of immediate threat 23 Active Shooter 24 Sexual Assault, Harassment, Dating Violence, and Stalking Stalking, Family Violence, Dating Violence 32 Sex Offender Registry Access 37 Workplace violence 37 Bomb Threat 38 Disruptive Individual 39 Explosion Hazmat Spill 40 Hostage Situation 40 Intruder on Campus 41 Lockdown 41 Media Policy 42 Medical Emergency 42 Suicide Attempt 42 5

6 Suspicious Package 43 Theft/Robbery 43 Weapon on Campus 44 Weather Event 44 Emergency evacuation procedures 45 Shelter in place procedures 46 How will you know to shelter in place? 46 How to shelter in place 46 Notification of missing students 47 Education regarding fire/security measures 48 Security of and access to campus facilities 49 Academic and Administrative 49 Residence Halls 50 Landscaping and Lighting 51 Crime prevention education and awareness programs (including Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence and Stalking programs) Alcohol and substance abuse Policy 57 Identity Theft 58 Protect Your Credit Cards 58 Clery Geography 59 Crime Statistics 61 Definitions of reportable crimes in the Campus Security Act Criminal offenses and arrest and judicial referrals statistics Uniform Crime Reporting 84 Annual Safety Report On-Campus student housing and life safety systems 85 Mandatory supervised fire drills 86 Safety Policies 86 Setting a (Arson) 87 False Alarm Sanctions 87 Procedures for Student Housing Evacuations 87 Misuse of Safety Equipment 88 Prohibited Items and Actions 88 Training 89 Organizations to which individuals should report fire 89 Future improvements for fire safety 89 log

7 Helpful Numbers Police Emergency Non-Emergency Police Administration Criminal Investigations Crime Prevention Traffic/Parking Div Transportation Services Fort Worth Police Fort Worth Hospitals Police Emergency 911 Harris Downtown ER Non-Emergency Harris HEB ER Police Administration Harris Southwest Berry St. Store Front John Peter Smith Traffic Division Cooks Children s Records Rape Crisis Hotline Criminal Inv Crisis Intervention Sexual Assault Unit Women s Center Homicide Safe Haven Auto Pound Municipal Court Victim s Assistance State Services Victim Services Crime Victim s Compensation 1-800= MHMR Consumer Services Missing Persons Clearinghouse Poison Control Center Sexual Assault Prevention/Crisis Texas Crime Stoppers

8 From the Chief of Police This report contains important information about safety and security on the Texas Christian University campus. In addition to describing the University s crime prevention and security programs, the report provides statistics about crime on the University campus. The statistics demonstrate that the University is an extremely safe campus, and we believe it is based in part on the combined efforts of many University departments a n d m e m b e r s o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y c o m m u n i t y. Safety is a shared responsibility, and we rely on each member of our community to contribute to security on our campus by reporting suspicious activities and using common sense when carrying out their daily activities. Chief of Police Steven G. McGee The Texas Christian University Police Department is responsible for developing services, programs, and strategies for maintaining a safe campus. The department focuses primarily on four functions: 1. A strong partnership with the community. We support the idea that all relationships require constant nurturing. We are committed to the philosophy of community-oriented policing and problem solving. 2. The emergency management functions. We embrace a comprehensive approach to preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovery from emergency situations. 3. Leveraging security technology. We have invested in several different systems to enhance on-campus safety through technology. These systems include automated card access to many facilities on campus, security cameras in select areas, license plate recognition cameras at entrances to some of the remote parking lots, and multiple areas that could serve as an emergency operations center here on campus to deal with any emergency that may arise. 4. Enforcement of University regulations and federal, state and local laws. We strive to maintain a safe environment that supports our educational mission by ensuring that community members comply with local, state and federal laws. For further information about safety and security at Texas Christian University, please visit us at or contact us at

9 The TCU Police Department Who we are Located at 3025 Lubbock Ave., the TCUPD provides professional police patrol and security functions 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All TCU commissioned officers are licensed and certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement as meeting the minimum training requirements of the State of Texas for peace officers. TCU Police Officers have the same authority as a municipal officer. To remain certified, TCU Police Officers must complete 40 hours of in-service training bi-annually to comply with state mandated training and attend additional training in various areas to help maintain a professional police department. Currently, TCU Police has 28 sworn officers that work to make TCU a safer community. In addition, the department utilizes 15 security and administrative personnel and a minimum of 25 student workers. Officers patrol the campus on foot, by bicycle, by T-3 scooters, and in vehicles. Several officers and a supervisor are on duty 24 hours a day. The Communications Center is staffed with trained and certified dispatchers who answer calls for service, dispatch officers and other emergency services to incidents, and monitor intrusion 9

10 detection and fire alarms. The department also employs students who carry out a variety of roles, including operating the Froggie Five-O escort program. TCU has an emergency reporting telephone system that allows anyone to make immediate contact with TCUPD by simply pressing the button at one of the emergency phones indicated by a blue light and strategically placed through-out the campus. TCUPD can also be reached by dialing 7777 from any campus phone extension or from an outside line. TCUPD additionally monitors all emergency 911 calls from campus phone lines that are automatically directed to concurrent jurisdiction emergency services agencies. Electronic locks, silent alarms, audible alarms, and standard locking and access procedures help control building security. Other crime prevention methods include programs such as Rape Aggression Defense System (RAD), Froggie Five-0 Student Escort Service, and safety meetings conducted throughout the year. Parking regulations are enforced by all patrol and security officers in a diligent manner to help ensure parking and traffic flow at TCU is as safe and efficient as possible. The agency has a Coordinator of Parking and Transportation Services and an Administrative Assistant for data entry and to assist those who wish to appeal a parking citation. The appeal board is comprised of TCU faculty, staff and students who report back to the agency violator s questions and concerns about the enforcement process. 10

11 Our Mission and Values The TCU Police Department s mission is to.. PROVIDE A SAFE AND SECURE L E A R N I N G ENVIRONMENT THROUGH PROFESSIONAL SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY. We fulfill this mission by providing our community with a full range of services that meet the highest professional standards of campus public safety. We are committed to working with the community to define our priorities and build lasting partnerships. Our core values guide us in this mission: Integrity We firmly adhere to the values set forth in this document and to our professional ethics, as outlined in the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics. We expect every member of our department to uphold the highest ethical standards at all times. Respect We treat all members of the community and each other with courtesy, fairness, and dignity. Professionalism We will continually develop our knowledge, skills, and abilities to the highest levels possible to enable us to provide the finest police services to the University community. Our approach is based on a commitment to excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement. Accountability We value the opportunity to serve the community and will ensure that our conduct always merits trust and support. We will accept full responsibility for our actions and will take appropriate actions to meet community and professional expectations. Service We are committed to enhancing public safety and increasing the community s sense of security. We will work in partnership with the community to identify and solve problems that affect the quality of life on campus. We demonstrate our commitment to serve by placing the needs of others ahead of our own. Mentoring We recognize that individual and team contributions are essential to a high-performing department. By sharing insight and guidance, and creating learning opportunities, we acknowledge that each member of our department makes a valuable contribution to our purpose and wisdom. Appreciation We are proud of our profession, our colleagues, our department, and Texas Christian University. We recognize the sacrifices our members make to ensure the safety and security of the community. We will do all that is possible to ensure all our members feel appreciated and duly rewarded for their contributions. 11

12 Our Police Authority and Jurisdiction Law enforcement authority The TCUPD s sworn officers derive their law enforcement authority from the Texas Education Code, Sec and the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Title 1, Chapter 2, Art Jurisdiction TCUPD has jurisdiction on all property owned or controlled by Texas Christian University and surrounding areas under Section of the Education Code. Interagency Cooperation The TCUPD has a close working relationship with the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission, Department of Public Safety, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Alcohol Tobacco and arms, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Defense, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other Federal agencies. TCUPD has a very close working relationship with the Fort Worth Police Department. By agreement between TCUPD and the Fort Worth Police Department, the TCUPD will be the primary agency in dealing with most law enforcement response and investigative needs related to calls and offenses occurring on the TCU campus. TCUPD may call upon the Fort Worth Police Department for additional patrol or investigative assistance on any calls for service or criminal offenses occurring on campus. In the event that TCUPD, or a victim, requests that the Fort Worth Police Department become involved in an investigation of an offense on campus, the investigation will be conducted as a joint investigation by both agencies. The Fort Worth Police Department is the lead agency in investigations of homicide, suicide, or sexual assault and may take the lead on other major felony crimes. TCUPD and the Fort Worth Police Department work closely together to solve crimes in and near the campus. There is no written MOU (memorandum of understanding); however, we have been working under this understanding for the last 17 years. TCUPD operates on the same radio communications system with the Fort Worth Police Department. When students are handled by TCUPD officers on matters that constitute violations of local, state, or federal laws, the students are subject to arrest or citation as allowed by law. Additionally, in criminal cases involving students, the case will also be referred through the Office of Campus Life for possible University sanctions and/or discipline. 12

13 We encourage all to immediately report all crimes to the TCUPD by calling while on campus or, if off campus, to dial 911. TCUPD Responses to calls for services The TCUPD will immediately dispatch an officer to investigate suspected criminal activity. Responses include, but are not limited to: Dispatch of one or more uniformed police officers Investigation of all reports Arrest and filing of charges, depending upon the circumstances of the offense Victim referral to assistance agencies, both on and off campus Referring alleged offenders to appropriate campus agencies, such as Campus Life and/or Alcohol and Drug Education Crime reporting procedures All students, employees, and visitors of the University should promptly report criminal incidents, accidents, and other emergencies to the TCUPD by dialing Individuals may also report incidents in person at the TCUPD located at 3025 Lubbock, Fort Worth, Texas Victims of off-campus crimes or incidents may report the offense to TCUPD which will help the person notify the appropriate agency. The University has installed over one hundred emergency two-way call boxes, (blue light phones) throughout the campus. By pressing the red button on the stations, users can communicate directly with the TCUPD Communications center. The location of each station is displayed to the communications officer. 13

14 Pastoral Care/Counselor Reporting Procedures TCU community members are strongly encouraged to immediately report criminal activity and suspicious person(s) to the TCUPD. Incidents that may or may not be crimes may also be reported to "campus security authorities". Licensed counselors (including certified Sexual Assault Victim Counselors) and campus clergy (pastoral counselors) are exempt from reporting requirements. TCU encourages counselors and clergy, if and when they deem it appropriate, to inform those who they counsel of procedures for reporting crimes on a voluntary, confidential basis for inclusion in the Campus Security Report. Voluntary Confidential Reporting Texas Christian University has several methods for individuals to report crimes and other serious incidents, including the ability to report on a confidential basis. With your permission, the TCUPD can file a report on the details of the incident without revealing your identity. The purpose of filing confidential reports in some cases is to comply with your wish to remain anonymous, while also taking steps to ensure the safety of yourself and others. By being informed about the incident, the TCUPD can keep an accurate count as to the numbers of incidents affecting the campus community and determine if a pattern of crime exists regarding a particular offense, area of campus, suspect or method of operation and alert the campus community to any such information. Reports filed confidentially are included in the annual crime statistics for the University. Tips Phone Line. Individuals can provide information confidentially by contacting an investigator at The Anonymous Crime Tip L i n e. TCUPD s online form can be submitted confidentially by visiting Confidential . Individuals can send an to police@tcu.edu. Anonymous R e p o r t of Sexual Assault. If you have been or know of someone who has been a victim of sexual assault, the TCUPD s online form can be submitted confidentially by visiting This form allows victims or witnesses to anonymously report an incident of sexual assault and assists the 14

15 University in evaluating whether a Campus Crime Alert should be issued and in collecting valuable information about sexual assaults. It is a valuable tool available to any member of the community. Note: We do not have policies or procedures that encourage pastoral, professional counselors, and other confidential counselors to report crimes to the TCUPD. Monitoring and recording criminal activity at Off-campus organizations We rely on our very close working relationships with local law enforcement agencies to receive information about incidents involving University students on and off campus. In coordination with local law enforcement agencies, the TCUPD will actively investigate certain crimes off-campus. The Fort Worth Police Department often provides information about students who are involved in criminal activity off-campus. This information will be forwarded to the Office of Campus Life for possible University follow-up pursuant to University code of conduct violations. If the department is notified of a situation in which a campus community member is the victim of a crime, depending on the circumstances the department may issue a Campus Crime Alert, detailing the incident and providing tips so that other community members may protect themselves. Currently TCU does not have any off-campus student organizations. What to do if you are a victim of any crime The TCUPD encourages anyone who is the victim or witness to any crime to promptly report the incident to the police. Because police reports are public records under state law, the TCUPD cannot hold reports of crime in confidence. Confidential reports for purposes of inclusion in the annual disclosure of crime 15

16 statistics can generally be made to other TCU campus security authorities* as herein identified. * Campus security authorities are identified as any member of the TCU Police Department, its officers and staff; and any University official who has significant responsibility for student and campus activities, including, but not limited to, the Offices of Campus Life, its Deans, and Directors; Housing and Residence Life staff, Hall Directors, and Residential Advisors; the Department of Athletics (coaches); the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellors, and their respective offices; and any other University official who has the authority and the duty to take action or respond to particular issues on behalf of the University. Upon request, the University will disclose the results of any disciplinary proceeding conducted by the institution against a student who is the alleged perpetrator of any crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense to the alleged victim or next of kin if the victim is deceased. Contacting the TCU Police Department Any member of the University community or visitor who wishes to file a complaint should contact the TCUPD at The officer s primary concern will be the safety of the victim. Reporting the incident to the police department does not mean that a victim must file criminal charges. He or she maintains the ultimate decision to file charges. If on campus... Contact TCUPD at as soon as possible. Inform the dispatcher of the nature of the crime committed and the description and direction of travel taken by the criminal, if available. Remember all you can about the criminal and give the description to the police dispatcher. Information to relate includes: race/sex of suspect, clothing description, height/weight, eye/hair color, any unusual features, jewelry, and a description of the suspect vehicle. Stay on the telephone with the police dispatcher until he or she understands your information, if in so doing, you do not jeopardize your safety. If off campus... Dial for emergencies, for non-emergency calls to Fort Worth Police. 16

17 Emergency blue light phones The emergency, blue light (on top of phone box for identification), phones are located in parking lots, on jogging paths, and near many buildings on campus. Should an emergency or any situation requiring police service arise: go to the emergency phone, pick up the receiver, then press the button and, when the dispatcher answers, relate the necessary information to get assistance to you. The location of the phone from which you are calling automatically registers in the dispatch office. The dispatcher will send officers to your location; try to remain near the phone from which you call, if in so doing, you do not further jeopardize your safety. Lost and Found The TCUPD is the official lost and found office for the University. Articles lost or f o u n d should be reported as soon as possible to help the office in returning property to the rightful owner. All found property turned into the TCUPD will be stored for at least 180 days in an effort to return property to the rightful owner. 17

18 Emergency Preparedness Texas Christian University recognizes the need to be prepared for critical incidents. Under the guidance of the Emergency Operations Group, several departments work together to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from emergency situations. In conjunction with local government first responders, such as the Fort Worth Police Department, Fort Worth Department and/or MedStar, the University is well prepared to respond to a full range of critical incidents. The University s Health Center and Police Department work together to ensure our emergency protocols and plans are updated as needed. 18

19 Shuttle Service TCU provides a shuttle service from lots 3 and 4 (north of the stadium) to the main campus and east campus, and from lot 12 (on Sandage Avenue) to the east campus. These shuttles run during the Fall and Spring semesters and a limited route during the summer. Also, the T (Fort Worth Transportation Authority) operates a route from Worth Hills to the main campus and east campus during the Fall and Spring semesters. The shuttles are available 24 hours during the school year. Complete shuttle routes, times and stops can be found on the TCUPD website at Bicycle Registration The primary function of TCUPD's bicycle registration program is to provide identification for bicycles stored on campus. While bicycle registration with the TCUPD is not mandatory, we strongly encourage you to consider registering your bike with us. For more information on the bicycle registration program, please visit our web page at 19

20 The Campus Security Act (also known as the Clery Act) The Campus Security Act requires colleges and universities to: Publish an annual report every year by October 1 that contains three years of campus crime statistics and certain campus security policy statements. Publish crime statistics for the campus, public areas immediately adjacent to or running through the campus, and certain non-campus facilities and remote classrooms. (The statistics must be gathered from campus police or security, local law enforcement, and other University officials who have significant responsibility for student and campus activities. ) Publish timely warning notices where a crime has occurred on or near campus that, in the judgment of the TCUPD, constitutes an ongoing or continuing threat to members of the University community. Make available for public inspection a daily public crime log of any crime that occurred on campus or within the patrol jurisdiction of the campus police and is reported to the campus police. Who is responsible for the Annual Security Report? The TCUPD is responsible for preparing and distributing the Annual Security and Safety report. The TCUPD works with other administrative departments and law enforcement agencies such as the office of the Dean of Campus Life and the Fort Worth Police Department to compile the information incorporated into the report. We encourage members of the University community to use this report as a guide for safe practices on and off campus. The report is available on the Web at Each member of the University community receives an that describes the report and provides its Web address. For more information, contact the TCUPD at or police@tcu.edu. 20

21 Timely Warning Notices, Campus Crime Alerts All of us want to be alerted promptly to potentially dangerous criminal situations near our homes, workplaces and/or schools so that we have both the time and the information necessary to take appropriate precautions. Every effort is made to keep the University apprised, on a timely basis, of crime problems confronting the campus community. When, in the judgment of the Chief of Police, or his designee, a situation arises which constitutes an ongoing or continuing threat, a timely warning will be issued by TCUPD through the college system to students, faculty, and staff, TCU 360 News, and the police department s web page located at If community members report crimes or serious incidents to other University administrators, those administrators should notify the TCUPD. The department will collaborate with these administrators to issue a crime alert, if warranted. Timely warnings are triggered by crimes that have already occurred but represent an ongoing threat. TCU requests that local law enforcement keep us informed on an immediate basis of crimes that occur in and around the University that may represent a security concern for our campus community. Crime alerts may be sent out for off campus crimes. 21

22 Distribution of Campus Crime Alerts The TCUPD distributes campus crime alerts in various ways. Once the University determines that an alert will be issued, the department s the announcement and posts it on its website The department may also post alerts on bulletin boards and/or residential housing doors throughout campus. Clery Required Daily Crime Log Consistent with the Clery Act requirements, the TCUPD maintains a Daily Crime Log and Report that records, listed by the date the incident was reported, all crimes and other serious incidents that occur: On campus In a non-campus building or property owned or operated by the University or its students in a reasonably contiguous geographic area On public property within, adjacent to, or immediately accessible from the campus Or within the department s patrol jurisdiction. The Daily Crime Log is available for public inspection at the department s location, 3025 Lubbock Ave., or at The Daily Crime Log includes the nature, date, time, and general location of each crime reported to the department, as well as its disposition (if this information is known at the time.) The department posts incidents in the Daily Crime Log within two business days of receiving a report of an incident and, in accordance with the Clery Act. 22

23 Notification to the community about an immediate threat.. The TCUPD and the Office of Communications receive information from various offices/departments on campus. If TCUPD confirms there is an emergency or dangerous situation that poses an immediate threat to the health or safety of some or all members of the University community, the Police Department and the Office of Communications will determine the content of the message and will use some or all of the systems described below to communicate the threat to the campus community, or to the appropriate segment of the community if the threat is limited to a particular building or segment of the population. The TCUPD will without delay and taking into account the safety of the community, determine the content of the notification and initiate the TCU Alert System that allows authorized TCU officials to send news and instructions through the use of s and text messages within moments of a critical incident. An alert will be issued unless issuing a notification will, in the judgment of the first responders, including but not limited to the TCUPD, the Fort Worth Police Department, the Fort Worth Department and or any Federal agencies, compromise the efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the emergency. In the event of a serious incident that poses an immediate threat to members of the TCU community, the University has various systems in place for communicating information quickly (such notification may be related to the aforementioned warning notice). Some or all of these methods may be activated in the event of an immediate threat to the TCU campus community. The University will also post updates on the TCU web page, TCU community members are encouraged to notify the TCUPD of any situation or incident on campus that involves a significant emergency or dangerous situation that may involve an immediate or ongoing threat to the health and safety of students and/or employees on campus. The TCUPD has the responsibility of 23

24 responding to, and summoning the necessary resources, to mitigate, investigate, and document any situation that may cause a significant emergency or dangerous situation. In addition, the TCUPD has a responsibility to respond to such incidents to determine if the situation does, in fact, pose a threat to the community. If so, federal law requires that the institution notify the campus community or the appropriate segments of the community that may be affected by the situation. Active Shooter The TCUPD has trained with the Fort Worth Police Department in responding to calls of an active shooter. If you see or hear of an active shooter on campus, immediately contact the TCUPD by dialing or 911. Do not approach the person with the weapon. Remain calm and if it is safe to do so, immediately leave the area and advise others to do the same. If possible, enter a building and go to a classroom or safe zone and secure the door, close the windows, turn off the lights, and stay low to the floor, away from the door. If the door will not lock, use barricades to help stop it from opening. Do not leave the area until you are instructed to do so by the TCUPD and/or other authorized personnel. Follow all instructions given to you by the TCUPD and/or other authorized personnel. Sexual Assault, Harassment, Dating Violence, and Stalking Texas Christian University s code of conduct prohibits sexually violent acts, termed Sexual Misconduct by Texas Christian University which can be crimes as well. Sexual misconduct includes non-consensual sexual intercourse, non-consensual sexual contact, sexual exploitation, interpersonal relationship violence, sex/genderbased stalking and sexual harassment. While Texas Christian University utilizes different standards and definitions than the Texas Code, sexual misconduct often overlaps with crimes of rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, dating violence and domestic violence. 24

25 In an effort to reduce the risk of sexual misconduct as well as the crimes of rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, dating violence and domestic violence occurring among its students, Texas Christian University utilizes a range of campaigns, strategies and initiatives to provide awareness, education, risk reduction and prevention programming. It is the policy of Texas Christian University to offer programming each year to prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault (including stranger and known offender assaults) and stalking. Educational programs are offered to raise awareness for all incoming students and employees, and are often conducted during new student and new employee orientation and throughout an incoming student s first semester. These programs and others offered throughout the year include strong messages regarding not just awareness, but also primary prevention (including normative messaging, environmental management and bystander intervention), and discuss institutional policies on sexual misconduct as well as the Texas definitions of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and consent in reference to sexual activity. Bystander engagement is encouraged through safe and positive intervention techniques and by empowering third-party intervention and prevention such as calling for help, using intervention-based apps, identifying allies and/or creating distractions. How To Be an Active Bystander Bystanders play a critical role in the prevention of sexual and relationship violence. They are individuals who observe violence or witness the conditions that perpetuate violence. They are not directly involved but have the choice to intervene, speak up, or do something about it. We want to promote a culture of community accountability where bystanders are actively engaged in the prevention of violence without causing further harm. We may not always know what to do even if we want to help. Below is a list of some ways to be an active bystander. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, dial This could be when a person is yelling at or being physically abusive towards another and it is not safe for you to interrupt. Watch out for your friends and fellow students/employees. If you see someone who looks like they could be in trouble or need help, ask if they are OK. Confront people who seclude, hit on, try to make out with, or have sex with people who are incapacitated. Speak up when someone discusses plans to take advantage of another person. Believe someone who discloses sexual assault, abusive behavior, or experience with stalking. Refer people to on or off campus resources listed in this document for support in health, counseling, or with legal assistance. 25

26 Risk Reduction Tips With no intent to victim blame and recognizing that only rapists are responsible for rape, the following are some strategies to reduce one s risk of sexual assault or harassment. Be aware of your surroundings. Knowing where you are and who is around you may help you to find a way to get out of a bad situation. Try to avoid isolated areas. It is more difficult to get help if no one is around. Walk with purpose. Even if you don t know where you are going, act like you do. Trust your instincts. If a situation or location feels unsafe or uncomfortable, it probably isn t the best place to be. Try not to load yourself down with packages or bags as this can make you appear more vulnerable. Make sure your cell phone is with you and charged and that you have cab money. Don t allow yourself to be isolated with someone you don t trust or someone you don t know. Avoid putting music headphones in both ears so that you can be more aware of your surroundings, especially if you are walking alone. When you go to a social gathering, go with a group of friends. Arrive together, check in with each other throughout the evening, and leave together. Knowing where you are and who is around you may help you to find a way out of a bad situation. Trust your instincts. If you feel unsafe in any situation, go with your gut. If you see something suspicious, contact law enforcement immediately (local authorities can be reached by calling in most areas of the U.S.). Don t leave your drink unattended while talking, dancing, using the restroom, or making a phone call. If you ve left your drink alone, get a new one. Don t accept drinks from people you don t know or trust. If you choose to accept a drink, go with the person to the bar to order it, watch it being poured, and carry it yourself. At parties, don t drink from the punch bowls or other large, common open containers. Watch out for your friends, and vice versa. If a friend seems out of it, is way too intoxicated for the amount of alcohol they ve had, or is acting out of character, get him or her to a safe place immediately. If you suspect you or a friend has been drugged, contact law enforcement immediately (local authorities can be reached by calling in most areas of the U.S.). Be explicit with doctors so they can give you the correct tests (you will need a urine test and possibly others). 26

27 If you need to get out of an uncomfortable or scary situation, here are some things that you can try: Remember that being in this situation is not your fault. You did not do anything wrong, it is the person who is making you uncomfortable that is to blame. Be true to yourself. Don t feel obligated to do anything you don t want to do. I don t want to is always a good enough reason. Do what feels right to you and what you are comfortable with. Have a code word with your friends or family so that if you don t feel comfortable, you can call them and communicate your discomfort without the person you are with knowing. Your friends or family can then come to get you or make up an excuse for you to leave. Lie. If you don t want to hurt the person s feelings, it is better to lie and make up a reason to leave than to stay and be uncomfortable, scared, or worse. Some excuses you could use are: needing to take care of a friend or family member, not feeling well, having somewhere else that you need to be, etc. Try to think of an escape route. How would you try to get out of the room? Where are the doors? Windows? Are there people around who might be able to help you? Is there an emergency phone nearby? If you and/or the other person have been drinking, you can say that you would rather wait until you both have your full judgment before doing anything you may regret later. Programs also offer information on risk reduction that strives to empower victims, how to recognize warning signals and how to avoid potential attacks, and do so without victim-blaming approaches. Throughout the year, ongoing awareness and prevention campaigns are directed to students and employees, including faculty, often taking the form of campaigns, s, guest speakers and events such as [Rape Aggression Defense training, and Assault Prevention Theater]. In the event that sexual misconduct, gender-based violence or the crimes of sexual assault, stalking, dating violence or domestic violence occurs, Texas Christian University takes the matter very seriously. The University employs interim protection measures such as interim suspension and/or no contact orders in any case where a student s behavior represents a risk of violence, threat, pattern or predation. If a student is accused of sexual misconduct, other gender-based violence or the crimes of rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, dating violence or domestic violence, s/he is subject to action in accordance with the TCU Student Code of Conduct. A student wishing to officially report such an incident may do so by contacting the Office of Campus Life. Anyone with knowledge about sexual misconduct or gender-based violence or the crimes of rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, dating 27

28 violence or domestic violence is encouraged to report it immediately. If you are the victim of sexual misconduct, gender-based violence or the crimes of rape, acquaintance rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, dating violence or domestic violence, some or all of these safety suggestions may guide you after an incident has occurred: 1. Go to a safe place and speak with someone you trust. Tell this person what happened. If there is any immediate danger, contact TCU Police if you are on campus or call 911 if you are off campus. 2. Consider securing immediate professional support (e.g.: counseling, victim advocacy, medical services, etc.) to assist you in the crisis. 3. If you are on campus during regular business hours, you may go to the TCU Health Center as well as the Office of Campus Life for support and guidance. These are both confidential resources. 4. For your safety and well-being, immediate medical attention is encouraged. Further, being examined as soon as possible, ideally within 120 hours, is important in the case of rape or sexual assault. The hospital will arrange for a specific medical examination at no charge. To preserve evidence, it is recommended that you do not bathe, shower, douche, eat, drink, smoke, brush your teeth, urinate, defecate or change clothes before receiving medical attention. Even if you have already taken any of these actions, you are still encouraged to have prompt medical care, and evidence may still be recoverable. Typically, if police are involved or will be involved, they will obtain evidence from the scene, and it is best to leave things undisturbed until their arrival. They will gather bedding, linens or unlaundered clothing and any other pertinent articles that may be used for evidence. It is best to allow police to secure items in evidence containers, but if you are involved in transmission of items of evidence, such as to the hospital, secure them in a clean paper bag or clean sheet, to avoid contamination. If you have physical injuries, photograph or have them photographed, with a date stamp on the photo. Record the names of any witnesses, and their contact information. This information may be helpful to the proof of a crime, to obtain an order of protection or to offer proof of a campus policy violation. Try to memorize details (physical description, names, license plate number, car description,), or even better, write notes to remind you of details, if you have time and the ability to do so. If you obtain external orders of protection (e.g. restraining orders, injunctions, protection from abuse), please notify the Texas Christian University Police Department or the campus Title IX Coordinator so that those orders can be observed on campus. 5. Even after the immediate crisis has passed, consider seeking support from the TCU Health Center, the Office of Campus Life and/or the Fort Worth Rape Crisis Center by calling (817)

29 6. Contact the Texas Christian University Office of Campus Life if you need assistance with University concerns, such as no-contact orders or other protective measures. The Office of Campus Life will also assist in any needed advocacy for students who wish to obtain protective or restraining orders from local authorities. The University is able to offer reasonable academic accommodations, changes to living arrangements, transportation accommodations, escorts, no contact orders, counseling services access and other supports and resources as needed by a victim. Legal Definitions Sexual Assault is defined by the FBI and UCR as penetration, no matter how slight, of the victim s vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim. Under Texas law, sexual assault is defined as : (1) intentionally or knowingly: (A) causes the penetration of the anus or sexual organ of another person by any means, without that person's consent; (B) causes the penetration of the mouth of another person by the sexual organ of the actor, without that person's consent; or (C) causes the sexual organ of another person, without that person's consent, to contact or penetrate the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person, including the actor; or (2) intentionally or knowingly: (A) causes the penetration of the anus or sexual organ of a child by any means; (B) causes the penetration of the mouth of a child by the sexual organ of the actor; (C) causes the sexual organ of a child to contact or penetrate the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person, including the actor; (D) causes the anus of a child to contact the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person, including the actor; or (E) causes the mouth of a child to contact the anus or sexual organ of another person, including the actor. (b) A sexual assault under Subsection (a)(1) is without the consent of the other person if: (1) the actor compels the other person to submit or participate by the use of physical force or violence; (2) the actor compels the other person to submit or participate by threatening to use force or violence against the other person, and 29

30 Other Sexual Offenses the other person believes that the actor has the present ability to execute the threat; (3) the other person has not consented and the actor knows the other person is unconscious or physically unable to resist; (4) the actor knows that as a result of mental disease or defect the other person is at the time of the sexual assault incapable either of appraising the nature of the act or of resisting it; (5) the other person has not consented and the actor knows the other person is unaware that the sexual assault is occurring; (6) the actor has intentionally impaired the other person's power to appraise or control the other person's conduct by administering any substance without the other person's knowledge; (7) the actor compels the other person to submit or participate by threatening to use force or violence against any person, and the other person believes that the actor has the ability to execute the threat; (8) the actor is a public servant who coerces the other person to submit or participate; (9) the actor is a mental health services provider or a health care services provider who causes the other person, who is a patient or former patient of the actor, to submit or participate by exploiting the other person's emotional dependency on the actor; (10) the actor is a clergyman who causes the other person to submit or participate by exploiting the other person's emotional dependency on the clergyman in the clergyman's professional character as spiritual adviser; or (11) the actor is an employee of a facility where the other person is a resident, unless the employee and resident are formally or informally married to each other under Chapter 2, Family Code. Besides rape, other sexual offenses include the following: sodomy (forced anal intercourse); oral copulation (forced oral-genital contact); rape by a foreign object (forced penetration by a foreign object, including a finger); and assault (the unwanted touching of an intimate part of another person for the purpose of sexual arousal). Link to TCU Sexual Assault Policy Statement: 30