Safety

The First Year Residence Halls feature the necessary components to provide a safe and comfortable living experience.  An electronic surveillance system monitors common areas and an access card system is needed at the entry of the residence hall(s). The front desk is staffed 24 hours a days and all guests are required to check-in at the front desk and be accompanied by a resident student at all times.  Additionally, each floor features campus phones.

Students are encouraged to take personal responsibility for their safety by locking their room door at all times and by being aware of their surroundings.  If you observe suspicious activity, please contact your Resident Assistant or the Housing Office immediately.  For emergencies, contact Campus Police at 696-4357(HELP).

For your safety, Marshall University Police suggests the following:

• Do not prop open any exterior locked residence hall door. Even though propping the doors makes it easier for you to get back into the residence hall, you also have made it easier for an unauthorized person to enter the building. For the safety of you and others in the residence halls, do not prop open any exterior doors because you don't know whom you may be letting in!
• Lock your door when you leave and take your keys with you, no matter how long you will be gone-even when you go to the bathroom. It only takes a few seconds to be the victim of a robbery.
• Lock your door when you and/or your roommate are sleeping.
• Do not leave notes on your door stating that no one is in or when you will return. It's an open invitation for theft.
• Keep wallets, purses, checkbooks, and jewelry out of sight and locked up if possible. Do not keep large sums of money on hand and routinely check your checkbook to see if any checks are missing.
• Keep a record of all your valuable items, noting description, serial number and approximate value of the items. In some cases you should consider taking pictures of them. These records should be kept in a secure location.
• Check with your parents' insurance company to see if your property is covered under their homeowner’s policy while you're living at school.
• Do not loan your room key to anyone. Do not attach your keys to your university ID. It's another invitation for theft.
• Do not allow strangers into your room.
• Do not open your door unless you know who is on the other side, especially at night.
• Do not allow door-to-door salespeople to enter the residence hall or your room. Marshall University policy prohibits soliciting in any building without prior written approval from the University.