October 1, 2018

The Annual Security Report (as required by the Clery Act) is prepared by the Director of Security to inform students, prospective students, faculty, and staff about Puget Sound security incidents, crime reporting procedures and prevention measures, and university support programs. Statistical information is gathered from campus resources and law enforcement agencies as required. This report also includes information about fire safety and statistics. Crime and fire statistics are reported by calendar year. 

 

Campus Security

The Puget Sound campus is located in a residential community in Tacoma, Washington. The university is genuinely concerned about the welfare of its students, faculty, and staff. We operate, assess, and continually evolve crime prevention, response, and reporting programs that are reasonable and appropriate for our environment. The university cannot totally eliminate crime or guarantee protection of persons or property. Each campus community member is responsible for campus safety and should exercise reasonable precautions to minimize risks to themselves and others.

The university encourages all members of the campus community to make accurate and prompt reports of all on-campus criminal activities, injuries, fires, and serious illnesses. Faculty, staff and students are reminded of their obligation to report crimes to the appropriate campus authority which includes department heads, university administrators, student leaders, Student Affairs, and Security Services staff. Reports may be made in confidence. Pastoral and counseling staff report crimes to university officials for statistical purposes and inform those reporting of this obligation. Security staff document all reported incidents and refer significant crimes against persons and property to the Tacoma Police Department. Security administrators, Student Affairs staff, and Title IX Officers investigate campus crimes involving faculty, staff, and students. Student Affairs staff sanction students when appropriate. Faculty and staff are sanctioned when appropriate by Human Resources and/or their department supervisor. Victims of crimes are advised to report incidents to the Tacoma Police Department. Security Services is available to assist as needed. Tacoma Police may investigate on or off-campus incidents involving students and non-students. There currently is no written memorandum of understanding between the university and the Tacoma Police Department for the investigation of alleged criminal offences.

Security Services and Residence Life staff are trained regarding accurate and prompt incident reporting. Because Puget Sound has strong internal communications and geographically concentrated campus housing, trained staff generally become aware of significant incidents quickly. They encourage reporting to appropriate campus authorities, counseling, or support staff. Security staff report crimes to local authorities when warranted.

Disseminating information and fostering awareness is essential to effective emergency response and crime prevention. The university strives, without significant delay, to inform the college community about potentially dangerous situations and major incidents involving crimes against persons and property so they may take measures to avoid potential harm. Emergency alerts/warnings can be communicated immediately via an outdoor loud speaker system and a campus mass emergency notification system with voice, text, and email capabilities. Emergency messaging is prepared by Security Services and/or in conjunction with the Office of Communications. Campus emergency communication systems are tested monthly by Security staff.

Security administrators, through key control and card access, regulate building use. Video surveillance cameras are used in many non-private campus areas to deter and investigate reported suspicious activity. Academic facilities have electronic locks that secure buildings at varying times depending on use schedules. Prior written authorization is required for access when facilities are secured. Residence Halls are secured 24 hours a day. Security and Residence Life staff members patrol living areas to check for propped or unsecured doors. Areas rendered unsecurable by damage or equipment failure are repaired on a high priority basis. All student housing provided by the university is on-campus.

Personal safety, resource information, and property protection literature is available at Security Services. Security Services assists students with engraving personal property or an engraver is available for loan at the Security office. Security administrators meet bi-monthly with student leaders to report campus incidents and discuss crime prevention measures. Crime prevention information is posted on bulletin boards throughout campus and communicated in the student newspaper, which typically is published weekly during the fall and spring semesters. Crime prevention information also is emailed regularly to the campus community and included in a weekly on-line news letter to faculty and staff. 

Puget Sound Security staff enforce campus rules and regulations on university property. Security staff work closely with the Tacoma Police Department to enforce local, state and federal law on the campus and on the campus borders. On-duty security staff carry two-way radios that allow direct communication with Tacoma Police and other emergency response personnel. Tacoma Police are summoned to provide assistance, make arrests, and investigate criminal matters as appropriate. Security staff do not normally arrest suspects without Tacoma Police assistance. Tacoma Police officers routinely patrol the campus vicinity and maintain communication with on-duty Security staff to share important information about activity in the area of campus. Security administrators also meet regularly with Tacoma Police administrators to share information.   

Puget Sound, through Security Services and Student Affairs staff, enforces university regulations regarding possession, use, and serving of alcoholic beverages. Regulations reflect State laws, and underage drinking is not permitted. University policies also prohibit on-campus possession, use, or sale of marijuana and illegal drugs per Federal and/or State law. When state and federal laws are in conflict, federal law takes precedence. Because the university’s conduct process is educational, violators may be referred for mandatory psychoeducational workshops or substance abuse assessment counseling by Student Affairs staff. Puget Sound also has educational programs (“Know Your Numbers,” “Hashing Out The Truth,” e-Toke", and “e-Chug”) for substance misuse and abuse prevention, which all students may participate in or attend during New Student Orientation and at other times during their educational experience. Puget Sound faculty and staff have access to “Unum Work-Life Balance” – an employee assistance program which provides resources for those concerned about personal alcohol and/or drug use.

University policy prohibits the possession or use of weapons on campus by anyone except law-enforcement officials, armored car couriers, or others specifically authorized by the university to support curricular or co-curricular programs. A weapon is defined as any firearm, explosive, knife, club, or other object that has been designed with the intent to harm another person or property (or replica of such a firearm or object) or any object used to inflict harm to another person or property. Possession includes, but is not limited to, storage in residential facilities, academic or administrative offices, lockers, desks, briefcases, or personal vehicles parked on university property.

The university has in place a Code of Conduct that outlines the high university ethical standards and expectations of students, faculty, staff, officers, trustees, and others with whom we work. The Code of Conduct provides an overarching statement that supplements but does not replace existing university policies and codes. Puget Sound’s student conduct process is independent of criminal or civil proceedings. Students are advised by the college of the option to pursue criminal charges or to bring civil action against perpetrators of crimes on campus. The student conduct process can be reviewed at pugetsound.edu/student-conduct.

The university has policies that address sexual assault, sexual violence or harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, discrimination and harassment. The university’s “Campus Policy Prohibiting Sexual Misconduct” is located at pugetsound.edu/sexualmisconductpolicy. The “Campus Policy Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment” is located at pugetsound.edu/discriminatoryharassmentpolicy. These policies include policy statements, definitions, and examples of behaviors and comments not permitted at the college. 

Counseling, Health & Wellness Services, Bystander Revolution Against Violence under Student Affairs, and Puget Sound’s Title IX Office (which includes an officer and deputy officer), sponsor programs to promote healthy relationships and increase student awareness about sexual violence, offenses, discrimination, and harassment. 

A survivor of a sexual offense or university employees who are informed about a sexual assault should report the incident immediately to Security Services, the Deputy Title IX Officer, or a university Harassment Reporting Officer. Reporting information is available here pugetsound.edu/reportingofficers. The survivor has the option to notify the Tacoma Police Department whether or not the offense is reported to Security Services. If the survivor so desires, the college will assist in notifying the police.

A sexual offense survivor is encouraged to seek immediate medical attention. A prompt medical examination is important to assess possible injuries or infection and collect medical evidence in the event of criminal prosecution. The survivor is also encouraged to seek personal counseling and support from Counseling, Health & Wellness Services, the college chaplain, the Sexual Assault Center of Pierce County, or another counseling service of the survivor’s choice. Additionally, a Sexual Misconduct Resource Center is available on-line at pugetsound.edu/sexual-misconduct-resource-center. If the survivor so desires, the college will make alternative campus housing and academic arrangements as appropriate and reasonably available. Students may request that reports made to counseling staff or the university chaplain be kept confidential. If there is an investigation of sexual misconduct, the complainant and the respondent are entitled to have others present during the disciplinary proceeding. The complainant and respondent are allowed support persons. They also are informed in writing about disciplinary proceeding outcomes alleging a sexual offense, including the nature of any sanctions. The university may impose one or more sanctions as appropriate, including but not limited to an official reprimand, campus activity restrictions, eviction from campus housing, student suspension, student expulsion, or termination of a faculty or staff member’s employment. A campus policy violation finding requires proof that allegations are more likely true than not true (preponderance of evidence).

Training on sexual discrimination, harassment, assault, and other forms of violence prevention is provided to student leaders using a comprehensive approach involving peer influence and bystander choices through nationally recognized programs such as Green Dot and Take Back the Night. New students participate in a consent workshop and attend a Green Dot Bystander persuasive speech as part of New Student Orientation. Attendance is taken at those sessions so that those who did not attend can be invited to a personalized session in the fall semester. Student Orientation Leaders and Resident Assistants are required to participate each August in this program and training. Sexual violence prevention workshops such as Green Dot Bystander Workshops are provided several times each semester or upon request for interested groups or organizations. Campus-wide presentations such as Take Back the Night occur each semester. Other prevention and awareness efforts occur through the academic year and include Domestic Violence Awareness month, the Escalation Workshop in conjunction with the OneLove Foundation in response to Dating Violence, the It’s On Us Week of Action, the Clothesline Project and the No More campaign.

Training on preventing workplace sex discrimination and discriminatory harassment, including sexual harassment, is provided to faculty, staff, and student employees. Puget Sound offers mandated online harassment prevention and preventing sexual violence tutorials that include the legal basis for harassment, behavioral awareness, and knowledge testing through case scenario-based questions. These tutorials address Puget Sound’s Policy Prohibiting Sexual Misconduct, which provides detailed descriptions of reporting responsibilities and grievance processes for students, faculty, and staff. Puget Sound staff are asked to complete the tutorials within 30 days of hire and every two years thereafter. Online training is augmented by classroom-based diversity awareness and discrimination-prevention training by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion staff in partnership with Student Affairs staff and the Office of Human Resources.

Classroom-based training on diversity and inclusion, harassment prevention, and bystander intervention response to power-based violence, including sexual violence, is regularly included in the annual Professional Development & Enrichment Conference for faculty and staff.

Title IX training, including reporting requirements is included in new faculty and staff orientation programs. All employees receive prevention, awareness and educational content about consent, dating/domestic violence, stalking, and reporting requirements through an on-line tutorial.

The Sexual and Gender Violence Committee (SGVC) consisting of students, faculty, staff, and external community affiliates meets twice per semester with additional sub-committee meetings on policy/response and outreach/prevention education. This institution-wide committee collectively assesses and addresses what the campus community is doing to address sexual and gender violence prevention, education, and response.

A program, now on-going, trains Faculty/Staff to become Victim Advocates. Each volunteer advocate participates in an eight-hour training on Victim Advocacy. Faculty/Staff Victim Advocates serve as advocates and educators for various presentations on consent, Green Dot Bystander Education, and Ending Rape Culture.

Two awareness communication pieces are utilized. One is an advocacy and reporting card located in bathroom stalls in residential and academic buildings. The second item is a Sexual Assault Misconduct Card that delineates reporting policies and resources to guide faculty and staff in responding to reports.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department maintains records of registered sex offenders residing in Tacoma. To identify registered offenders in a particular area, visit https://www.sheriffalerts.com/cap_main.php?office=54483. General information about offenders and related Washington State laws is available on this site.

Security Services has procedures for responding to reports of missing persons. Campus community members are encouraged to contact Security Services or Residence Life staff with concerns about possible missing roommates, friends, or co-workers. Unless there is evidence or suspicious circumstances, persons over 18 years of age are not normally considered “missing” by Tacoma Police until they have not been seen or communicated with for 24 hours. Students living in university-owned housing have the option of listing a confidential contact person to be notified if the student is determined missing. Only authorized campus officials and law enforcement officials have access to this contact information. Tacoma Police will be notified if a student is determined to be missing after 24 hours whether or not they have listed a contact person. University representatives work collaboratively with Tacoma Police to investigate missing students. The university must notify parents or guardians (unless emancipated) about missing students under the age of 18.

Campus emergency response plans are posted at pugetsound.edu/emergency. The university has a designated Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and temporary shelters on campus. Meetings and exercises are conducted involving members of a university Emergency Response Group. College representatives conduct ongoing emergency planning with the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management and City of Tacoma Police and Fire Departments. At the beginning of each semester, the university schedules and practices a campus-wide emergency drill (campus lockdown and evacuation.) Prior to the drill, the campus community is reminded about posted emergency response procedures.

Fire Safety

The university encourages prompt reporting of any fire to Security Services. Reported fires are responded to by trained Security staff and/or the Tacoma Fire Department and are documented in a college incident report. All campus student housing facilities are equipped with fire alarm and suppression devices.  All large occupancy residence units, including fraternity and sorority residences, contain certified fire alarm systems, occupant use fire extinguishers, and fire sprinkler systems. The university owns 76 residential houses occupied by students, faculty, or staff members. These houses are equipped with residential smoke detectors and occupant-use fire extinguishers. Security staff test fire alarm systems, visually inspect fire extinguishers, and facilitate needed repairs. Per City of Tacoma fire code, all campus fire alarms and suppression systems are tested and certified annually by a licensed contractor. All campus fire alarm and fire sprinkler systems are monitored in the Security office. Security staff respond to fire alarm activations and immediately alert the Tacoma Fire Department when necessary.

Fire drills are conducted in large occupancy living units (once each semester). Drills are scheduled by Residence Life staff and coordinated by Campus Safety Officers. During drills, Residence Life and Security staff check facilities to review evacuation compliance and verbally instruct occupants to assemble in designated outdoor gathering areas for each building.

Fire safety in campus residences is closely monitored and regulations are enforced by Residence Life and Security staff. Washington State Law prohibits smoking within 25 feet of building entrances or openings. The campus Residence Policy prohibits tampering with fire safety equipment, storing flammable objects or substances, use of candles or incense, refrigeration units requiring excess of 2.5 amps, and exposed coil cooking appliances in residential buildings. Residence Life staff enforce these policies and perform per semester fire inspections of each room. Residence Life and Security staff receive annual fire extinguisher training. Maintenance and custodial staff receive fire safety training and are instructed to report observed violations to Security Services.

Statistics

Following are campus crimes and residential fire statistics formally reported by victims, witnesses, students, faculty, and staff to Security Services. Tacoma Police provide crime statistics for incidents occurring on streets and sidewalks bordering campus property. The director of Security Services compiles these statistics for the previous three calendar years in accordance with federal regulations. A log of reported campus crime and fire statistics is maintained and available for review in the Security Services office.