Abusive Behavior
Resident students are not allowed to be abusive of others.  Writing or speaking obscene language is not allowed.

Alcohol and Illegal Drugs Policy
Resident students are expected to be conversant with and to comply with The University of Scranton Policy on Alcohol and Illegal Drugs as printed elsewhere in this handbook.  Students are reminded of the following regulations governing alcohol or illegal drugs in University residences:

1. It is prohibited for anyone to sell illegal drug substances on University property.

2. It is prohibited for anyone to use or possess illegal drug substances on University property.

3. It is prohibited for a student under the age of twenty-one to possess or consume an alcoholic beverage.

4. It is prohibited for any student to be in the presence of any other person illegally possessing, consuming or selling illegal drug substances or alcoholic beverages.

5. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in all public areas in University residences.

6. It is prohibited to dispense beer from a keg or beer ball in University residences.

7. Intoxication is not permitted.

8. Empty kegs and beer balls are not permitted in residences. In addition, empty containers of alcohol (cans or bottles) are acceptable evidence of consumption, and are therefore not allowed in student rooms. This ban includes displays of empty alcoholic beverage containers on shelves, desks, etc.

9. It is prohibited for anyone over the age of 21 to consume/possess alcoholic beverages with individuals under the age of 21 (except for one's roommate).

Candles
Burning candles is prohibited in the residence halls.

Care of Rooms and Lounges
Residents are expected to keep their rooms clean and orderly.  The furniture in rooms and its arrangement comply with existing fire and health codes.  If students plan to augment room furniture with chairs or sofas, they must purchase furniture which is clean and fireproof.  Waterbeds are not allowed.  Supplementary furniture must be removed by room occupants and properly disposed of at the end of the academic year.  Students are not allowed to remove or store any University furniture or equipment placed in the student?s room.  Neither are students allowed to remove furniture in any of the common areas.

Students are not allowed to damage any part of the room, neither the structure nor the equipment.  If any item is damaged or broken, it should be reported to the staff member.  Students are not allowed to repair or replace broken or damaged items owned by the University.

Students are not allowed to use tacks, nails or tape that causes damage to the walls.

Cooking/Electrical Appliances
Students are required to limit their use of electrical appliances to the following:  personal computer, radio, stereo, small TV, compact refrigerator (no more that 175 watts of power), microwave, clock, hair dryer and small fan.  Toaster ovens, open-coil heaters or burners and space heaters are not allowed.

Courtyards and Lawns
Students are not permitted to engage in games of catch with hard balls, footballs, lacrosse sticks, or other types of vigorous activity in the courtyards adjacent to student residences.  This policy exists to preserve the green areas and protect residents and the buildings.

Damage
During the first week of the academic year, resident students will be provided with a completed Room Condition Form by the Residence Life staff member.  Each resident has five days to inform her or his staff member of any mistakes or missing items on the report.  Each resident should list any damage noted in her or his room on this form and return it to staff.

The Room Condition Form will serve as protection against housing-damage charges for the student and as an alert for
repairs to maintenance personnel.  These reports are kept on file and are reviewed when the student leaves that particular room.  At that time, damage other than ordinary wear and tear will be charged to the occupants.

An incoming resident student is required to pay a $200 room-damage fee.  The room-damage fee will be paid by each student upon assuming residency and will be refunded in full (or in part if any claims are made against the fee) upon the student?s graduation or approved withdrawal from the housing system.  An additional $200 room-damage fee must be paid by a resident student each time she or he is responsible for damages in the residences totaling more than $200.

In those cases when the responsible parties for damages to the residence cannot be determined, the University reserves the right to distribute the cost of repairs or replacement for these damages among all residents residing in that residence or area of residence.

Vandalism or behavior that could lead to damage of the residence halls is prohibited.  Persons found engaging in such behavior face repair or replacement costs plus judicial sanctions.  The following is a list of some of the activities that could lead to destruction of property or injury to the residents and are not allowed in the residence halls:  elevator misuse, shaving-cream fights, pillow fights, dart throwing, lavatory misuse, bulletin-board misuse, water misuse, food throwing, creating messy conditions in a room, vending-machine misuse, recreation-equipment misuse, etc.

Entering Student Rooms and Residences
Authorized University representatives may enter a student?s room to inspect, repair, examine, or make necessary alterations.  In addition, University representatives may enter a student?s room to enforce University policy; to investigate possible policy infractions; to ensure that students have vacated the room in fire-drill or emergency situations; to inspect for cleanliness, health and safety; or to place, replace, repair or remove rented equipment.

A student is not allowed to enter another student?s room without permission from the occupant.  University staff will provide access to a room only for the resident of that room.

No one is welcome in a University of Scranton student residence unless she/he resides in that residence, is a University employee working in that residence, is being hosted by a resident of that building, or is given permission by the University to do work in that building.  Resident students are held responsible for the behavior of their guests.  Guests must always be escorted by a resident while in the building.

Evacuation Procedures
The following procedure is to be adhered to when the fire alarm sounds:

1. Immediately upon knowing the alarm has been set, each occupant in the residence is to close her or his windows and door and leave the building by the nearest exit.

2. No one should linger in the building for any reason.

3. All occupants must remain at least 100 feet away from the residence in which the alarm sounded.  No one may      re-enter the residence before the proper authorities grant permission.

Facility Reservation
Residence-hall and house-lounge space is for the explicit use of the residents of that building.  No other group may use that space during the academic year.  The three exceptions to this are:  the classroom in Fayette House, the classroom in Liva House and Collegiate Hall.  Only students taking registered classes through the University may have access to the classroom space.  In order to reserve Collegiate Hall, please contact the Office of Residence Life at least two weeks prior to the date needed.  Please note that this space is also set aside as a study space and will not be given to groups during busy academic times. Collegiate Hall will not be booked more than three times each week.

Failure to Comply
Residence Life staff members are charged with the overall responsibility of ensuring that student residences offer safe, attractive and comfortable conditions promoting optimum student development and learning.  Such staff members often must make requests of students in the performance of their various duties.  Failure to comply with the legitimate request of a Residence Life staff member or other University official is a serious offense.

Fire Escapes
Resident students are never to be on hall fire escapes except in times of emergency. In addition, clothing and signs are not allowed to be hung from the fire escapes.

Fire and Safety Equipment
Tampering with fire extinguishers, alarms and other safety equipment is a serious offense against the University community. A student guilty of this offense faces a maximum penalty of expulsion from the University.

Gambling
Gambling is not allowed in the University residences.

Guests
If a resident student plans to invite a guest for an overnight stay on campus, the resident must notify the RA or PC at least 24 hours before the guest arrives. See "Visitation Policy" below for more information.

Illegal Possessions
Use or possession of fireworks, firearms, ammunition, explosives, dangerous chemicals, knives or weapons of any kind is forbidden in the University residences.  Also, natural trees, especially at Christmas time; motorcycles, or gas-driven vehicles; gasoline, butane and other flammable items are prohibited.

Incense
Burning incense is prohibited in the residence halls.

Lamps
Halogen lamps are prohibited in the residence halls.

Lockouts
If it is not possible to obtain the assistance of an RA or PC in the building, the student should call Public Safety for assistance.  Students may be charged for lockouts.  Maintenance personnel are not allowed to provide access to a room for residents.

Lofts
The construction and/or placement of lofts, other than those provided by The University of Scranton, are not permitted due to a number of significant safety and maintenance concerns.

Loss or Theft of Personal Property
The University is not liable for the loss or theft of a resident?s personal property from any cause whatsoever.

Modifications to Rooms
Structural modification or repairs of damages in the residence by a student or other non-University personnel is not allowed. This includes setting any University-owned furniture on blocks, crates, etc. Cinder blocks and bricks are not allowed in student rooms without the permission of the Office of Residence Life.

Noise
It is essential that an atmosphere conducive to study and reflection be maintained in all University residences.  Each resident student, therefore, is expected always to be considerate of others, and to exhibit restraint in the playing of music or otherwise creating noise in and around University residences.  Stereos are not allowed to be played out a student?s window or out into the public areas of the residence.

Residents should conduct their activities so as not to interfere with the quiet of others.  Musical instruments may not be played in the residences.  Quiet hours in the residences Sunday through Thursday are 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from midnight until 10:00 a.m.  Disorderly conduct which disturbs others is not permitted at any time.

Painting a Room
Students or other non-University personnel are not allowed to paint their rooms.

Pets
Only fish are allowed in University residences, one tank per room which cannot exceed 20 gallons.  No other pets are allowed.  If a resident violates this policy, the pet may be seized immediately by University personnel.

Property
Residents are not allowed to be in possession of any stolen property in their rooms including construction barriers, construction signs, University signs, University banners, food-service equipment, etc.

Restricted Areas in Residences
A number of areas in student residences are off limits to students.  These areas include electrical or mechanical closets, storage closets, roofs, balconies and staff rooms or offices.

Room Assignments
A resident is not allowed to sublet her or his room at any time nor is a resident allowed to have a guest stay for an extended period of time (more than two consecutive days or more than eight total days in one academic semester).  The University reserves the right to move a resident from one room to another.

In most cases, the University will not move a student out of her or his room at the request of a roommate.  However, if this request is due to policy violations, the student should pursue judicial action through the Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs.  A student may be moved out of housing or relocated as the result of a judicial sanction.

Medical reasons are usually not valid reasons to ask that a roommate be moved.

Room Changes
Room changes may occur only during the second and third weeks of the first and second semesters.  Room changes are not allowed during intersession. Room changes occurring after the room-change period ends are subject to a $30 fee.

Search of a Student Room
Resident Assistants and Program Coordinators are not authorized to search student rooms.  RAs and PCS may enter a room only as necessary and observe only what is in plain view.  Searches of the drawers, closets, and other areas can be conducted only by the Director of Residence Life or a designee.  When a search is made, the occupants will be made aware of the reason for the search, but not necessarily before the search is made.  Written notification of a room search will be left in the room if the occupants were not in the room at the time of the search.

A receipt for any belongings removed during the search will be given to the room occupants; such belongings will be
returned, if and when it is safe and lawful to do so, after disposition of a case by the appropriate University or civil authorities. At least two University representatives, one a Residence Life staff member, will be present when a search of a student room is required.

In a criminal case or other serious emergency, the presence of a Residence Life staff member is not required.

Solicitation
Solicitation in the residences is prohibited so as to protect residents from frequent visits and possible harassment.  Only residence-hall organizations may solicit in their residence and then only with the majority vote of the organization.

Smoking
Smoking is prohibited inside all University residences.

Vacancies
A resident student may have one or more vacancies in her or his room.  Although the University makes every attempt to inform residents of roommates, this is not always possible.  When residents leave for break periods and they have at least one vacancy, the room should be clean and ready for the new occupant(s).

When students visit the rooms with vacancies, the occupants are not allowed to dissuade the students from moving into this room.  A violation of this policy is considered to be harassment.  Students with concerns about new roommates should make these concerns known to their RA or PC.

Vacation Periods
All University residences are closed over vacation periods with few exceptions.  Students are expected to vacate their building by the posted time. The University makes reasonable accommodations for students who need to stay in housing for academic reasons. Please see your staff member for more information.

Violence Against a Staff Member
The commission of an act of physical violence against any University employee acting in the performance of her or his duties is considered an extremely serious offense.  Any student who commits an act of physical violence against a Residence Life Staff member will be subject to disciplinary action.  A guilty verdict in such a case may result in suspension or expulsion from the University.

Visitation Policy
University residence halls, apartments and houses are the residences of the students assigned to live in those buildings.  Use of the facilities and services (lounges, laundry, computer equipment, etc.) in these locations are for the exclusive use of these residents.

Any request to utilize any residence facility or outdoor area that affects the quality of life in a residence building must be approved by the Office of Residence Life.The purpose of the visitation policy is to set up for all students an environment conducive to privacy and quiet.  Even though a visitor is defined as a member of the opposite sex, a staff member or roommate may request that a student of the same sex leave a location if the goals of the policy are not being followed.

The right of a student to live in some privacy takes precedence over the right of a roommate to entertain a guest in the room. Overnight guests of members of the opposite sex are not allowed.  Overnight guests of members of the same sex must be registered with the Resident Assistant on duty or, in theme houses, with the Program Coordinator.  Permission to host overnight guests must be granted by all residents of the particular room.

The following hours are for visitation:

All residents and guests are expected to adhere to the visitation policy.  Hosts are fully responsible for the actions of their guests whether for financial restitution or disciplinary action.  Hosts are expected to escort guests in and out of their residence if the guests are not registered University students.

At all times, a non-resident visitor of a building must be escorted by a resident of that building (host).  At no time should non-residents be present without their host.  Use of laundry rooms, computer labs, recreation space, lounge space, pianos, etc., is meant for the residents of that building.  Only guests in the presence of their hosts may use these or other residential facilities. In Gavigan College and Redington Hall, a resident student has priority over a guest in the use of all computer equipment.  The Office of Residence Life may give permission to some groups or individuals to use residence-hall space.

The above policy does not apply to Residence Life, Public Safety, or Maintenance personnel who are in the process of fulfilling the responsibilities of their position.

Windows
Due to the potential for serious injury or death, University policy strictly prohibits the throwing of any object from the window of any University building.  Students also may not remove screens from windows.

Electrical signs are not allowed in windows.  Signs and other material are not allowed to hang outside of windows, off fire escapes, or off buildings.