HEALTH AND SAFETY
Living in community means that a balance must be struck between the individual rights of residents, while respecting the needs of the community as a whole.  Therefore, the following policies are in place to ensure the health and safety of each resident. 

Animals are not permitted in any buildings on campus, including residence hall rooms.  Exceptions to this policy are fish in freshwater aquariums.

Firearms, ammunition, weapons, fireworks, candles, incense, open flames, gasoline, flammable materials, and motor vehicles are prohibited.  The College provides curtains in each room that are made of flame-retardant material.  These curtains must be kept in place.  Additional window dressings are not permitted.  Please don’t put your fellow residents at risk for potential fire by having candles in residence hall rooms.  Avoid administrative fines for candle possession by leaving candles at home.  Due to fire concerns, halogen/torchiere lights must be low wattage and UL approved; strings of Christmas lights are permitted in rooms only in the holiday period from Thanksgiving to Christmas.  Additional violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action taken by the College.

Personal belongings and large objects are not permitted in residence hallways due to potential hazard(s) in the event of a fire or other emergency.

Decorations and displays erected in a manner that block or obstruct an exit, hallway, circuit breaker panel, fire hose cabinet, smoke detector, or fire extinguisher are prohibited.  Side entrances and exits, as well as windows, are to be used only in emergencies. 

Screens are to be kept in windows at all times.  Avoid a $10 fee per room resident and an infestation of bugs by keeping screens in place.  Another $10 fine will be avoided by not using side entrances in situations other than emergencies. Due to safety concerns, roofs, overhangs, attics, and marked physical plant spaces are off-limits to students as well.  Individuals who frequently trip the door alarms exhibit a lack of consideration toward students in their halls.

Students are not permitted to keep live trees, exercise weights, or anything that extends outside room windows.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
Pay close attention to posted directions in residence halls regarding emergency procedures.  Each month, residence halls have at least one fire drill.  When the alarm sounds, Pennsylvania law requires that everyone be evacuated, even though it may be a false alarm.

Tampering with any fire safety equipment, such as extinguishers, exit lights, hoses and alarms, or failing to evacuate a building when an alarm is sounded are serious offenses.  Violators are subject to disciplinary action and may be referred to civil authorities.

APPLIANCE/COOKING INFORMATION
Refrigerators are permitted if approved by Physical Plant personnel.  They must be stamped with a visible and acceptable Underwriters Seal of Approval and may not exceed 4.2 cubic feet in size.  Microwave ovens are permitted in student rooms only if they have a power rating of 1100 watts or less.

Other appliances such as hot pots, fans, coffeemakers, and popcorn poppers are allowed for individual use in rooms.  Open coil appliances such as toasters and toaster ovens are not permitted.

To conserve energy and minimize the risk of power failure, the College reserves the right to restrict or limit the use of electrical appliances.  In addition, the College does not allow students to regulate thermostats or have air conditioners in rooms.