Western State College Institutional Security Policies & Crime Statistics

1. Procedures for Reporting Crime on Campus. Western State College uses the 911 system for all emergencies; call 9-911. This service is available 24 hours daily. In addition to direct access to community response agencies, each residence hall complex is staffed with a live-in professional who supervises para-professionals on each floor. These staffs have routine evening duty schedules ensuring hall and campus coverage and student access to staff throughout the school year. Finally, the College employs security guards for night and evening security coverage. The Campus Security cell phone is 9-209-1020. The administrators who are involved in the crisis response team are trained in emergency procedures and protocols.

2. Campus Policies on Facilities Security.

A. Main Residence Hall entrances are open from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Outside keys are issued to all hall residents. Resident Assistants are on duty 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. The Library is open from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and until 6:00 p.m. on Friday. On the weekends the hours are 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturdays and 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Sundays.

B. All classroom buildings are open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. These buildings are routinely patrolled during evening hours.

C. Campus security routinely engages in auto, bike and foot patrols during their working hours. In conducting patrols of campus, security personnel check to see that locks and other door hardware are functional and report any needed repair to Facility Services.

D. All Residence Hall building exit doors are to be locked by 10:00 p.m. daily. Students are responsible to carry room keys at all times. Propping doors during these closed hours is dangerous to the student population and property and, therefore, prohibited. Students found responsible for propping doors can expect judicial sanctions, and even potential legal action.

3. Programs on Security Information and Crime Prevention.

A. Residence Life and other campus organizations engage in a variety of informational and preventative programming. These include, but are not limited to the following: a student security force, and events management team, video library materials, along with date rape and assault prevention programs in every residence hall during the first weeks of school. The local police department makes presentations in the Residence Halls.

B. Western State College works closely with the municipal police department in an effort to deliver additional security and crime prevention programs. Such efforts include, but are not limited to: victim's advocate services, the Women's Resource Center, "Coffee with a Cop" (Officer Access Program), bicycle registration, party management brochures, assistance with events management training, and routine meetings with the Chief of Police and theDean of Students.

C. Western State College will notify students, faculty and staff through e-mail, posters and other means of communication as deemed appropriate to warn students about crimes that have been perpetrated in order to prevent similar crimes from happening in the future.

4. Campus Policy regarding Law Enforcement. As a public institution, Western State College is bound to uphold all Federal and State laws. As College security guards do not have arrest powers, law enforcement efforts are executed in conjunction with municipal, county, state and federal agencies as appropriate.

5. Policy Regarding Off-Campus. Western State College believes that a student's behavior in the larger community may be grounds for misconduct action, provided that the behavior could have serious adverse impact on the college community. The College believes that all students are responsible for obeying federal, state, and municipal laws; violation of these laws can lead to misconduct action by the college. Therefore, the College has established procedures for notification of criminal activity by individuals known to be students off-campus.

6. Drug and Alcohol Policies and Education Programs.

A. Campus drug and alcohol policies are outlined in the Student Handbook. In summary, the College is subject to the laws of the State of Colorado and will act in accordance with those laws and College policies in the event of violations. Additionally, the Campus does not permit alcohol use in most campus buildings or on grounds unless approval is granted for special circumstances.

B. Western State College routinely offers drug and alcohol awareness programs. In addition, some special programs and organizations include: National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, National Drug Awareness Week, and BACCHUS (a national student organization to promote responsible drinking). Professional and student staff are trained to intervene and refer any instances in which drug or alcohol is an issue to the proper authorities.

7. Sexual Assault Program

Western State College will not tolerate sexual assault in any form including acquaintance rape. A student charged with sexual assault can be prosecuted under Colorado criminal statutes and disciplined under Western State College’s standards of conduct. Even if the criminal justice authorities choose not to prosecute, the college can pursue disciplinary action. This discipline may include suspension or dismissal from the college.

Western State College jurisdiction extends beyond the physical boundaries of the campus whenever the student violates the policies and standards of conduct outlined in this student handbook. Thus, a sexual assault involving members of the WSC community that takes place off campus can be adjudicated through the campus judicial system. Campus judicial decisions are based on a "preponderance of evidence" in contrast to the criminal justice system whose burden of proof is "beyond a reasonable doubt."

Students who have been sexually assaulted are highly encouraged to report the crime to the local police and campus authorities. Individuals can confidentiality discuss their case with a member of Residence Life, the Campus Counseling Center, and/or a peer advocate before deciding whether or not they want to proceed with criminal or campus judicial proceedings. These staff members and peer advocates are also available to assist students in notifying local police if the student requests such assistance. To preserve potential evidence, law enforcement recommends that individuals not bathe, douche, or change clothes before reporting sexual assault to police.

Individuals who decide to utilize the campus judicial system that have been sexually assaulted and those accused of sexual assault are entitled to the following:

• Assistance with changes in on-campus housing and academic arrangements if requested
• To be informed of the names of all witnesses called
• To question witnesses and to present witnesses on his/her behalf
• To be informed of the status of the case at any time
• To have counsel or a support person present throughout the hearing
• To have a closed hearing
• A speedy hearing without unnecessary delays
• To be informed of the outcome of the hearing

ALL EFFORTS WILL BE MADE TO PROTECT THE VICTIM AND WITNESSES FROM THREATS, HARRASSMENT, AND INTIMIDATION BY ASSAILANT AND/OR ASSAILANTS’ FRIENDS

Numbers to call if you’ve been assaulted or need mental health assistance:

• Western State College Sexual Assault Peer Assistance Phone: 970-306-5799. This phone number reaches a trained member of the Sexual Assault Prevention Advocates which is a student and faculty group. Someone is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to take calls on this phone and refer victims to appropriate resources.
• Emergency mental health therapist: 970-252-6220. This is a community mental health professional available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They will guide victims to resources and are also professionally trained to deal with sexual assault cases.
• Gunnison Police Department Dispatch: 911 or 970-641-8000.
• WSC Campus Counseling Center: 970-943-2484. This line is only staffed during regular business hours (M-F, 8-5). All WSC students are entitled to 7 free sessions at the Counseling Center and can schedule appointments through this number.
• Office of Student Affairs: 970-943-2090. Students should contact Student Affairs to discuss campus policies or     general campus support.
• RA on duty: 970-209-1021. Students who live on campus can reach Residence Life staff through this number.
• Campus Security: 970-209-1020. Campus security can assist students needing to get to a safe place and they can also refer victims to law enforcement.

8. Campus Crime Statistics. These crime statistics, gathered by the Gunnison Police Department, WSC Campus Security and WSC Administration are based on the Federal Bureau of Investigations Uniform Crime Reporting System and are in compliance with the Campus Security Act of 1990.

The total number of charges filed does not reflect the number of persons charged, because some defendants are charged with several counts. There are no off-campus locations that meet the Campus Security Act definitions.

If you have any further questions regarding this report, please call or write the Vice President of Student Affairs, Student Affairs' Office, Room 221Taylor Hall, Western State College, Gunnison, CO 81231. Phone is (970) 943-2090.

WESTERN STATE COLLEGE OF COLORADO REPORTED CRIMES: CALENDAR YEARS 2006 – 2008

The figures in this table reflect the number of students referred for campus disciplinary action for alcohol and drug law violations and illegal weapons possession who were not arrested for the violations. Arrests of both students and nonstudents for these violations are tabulated separately in Table 2. The statistics in Table 3 fulfill a new reporting requirement for 1999 and do not correlate to the statistics reported for 1997 & 1998. 

TABLE 2
ARRESTS FOR LIQUOR AND DRUG LAW VIOLATIONS & ILLEGAL WEAPONS POSSESSION:
CALENDAR YEAR 2004, 2005, & 2006

TABLE 3
CAMPUS DISCIPLINARY REFERRALS FOR LIQUOR AND DRUG LAW VIOLATIONS & ILLEGAL WEAPONS POSSESSION:
CALENDAR YEAR 2004, 2005, & 2006