Annual Security Report

This report focuses on University programs, properties and facilities owned or controlled by the University. UB has campuses located within the City of Buffalo and Town of Amherst, and each municipality has law enforcement agencies and maintains crime statistics. For information on safety and crime in the local communities, contact the Department of Public Safety. (Consult the "Living Off-Campus brochure produced by Commuter Services-Office of Student Life and the Personnel Safety Committee).

The University is concerned about crime in the community and works with local law enforcement agencies to promote safety awareness, in an effort to reduce the number of incidents and assist in the investigation of crimes.

The following describes current campus policies regarding procedures and facilities for students and others to report criminal actions or other emergencies occurring on campus and policies concerning the institution's response to such reports.

The Department of Public Safety is the Univer-sity's law enforcement agency. It has an office on the North Campus (Bissell Hall) and a sub-station on the South Campus (Clement Hall) to facilitate the reporting, prevention, and investigation of criminal activities and to provide for prompt response to other emergencies.

Members of the academic community and visitors to the campus are encouraged to report crimes to the Department's dispatcher by telephone (645-2222). Crimes and emergencies can also be reported by using one of the campus' 28 strategically located "blue light" telephones that immediately connect the caller with Public Safety. This dispatch office is operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week and dispatches patrols to emergency calls and reports of criminal activity. As appropriate, the Department interacts with local crisis service agencies, law enforcement units, emergency health care agencies and prosecutors in responding to reports of criminal activities or emergencies.

The following are the current campus policies concerning security and access to campus facilities, including campus residences, and security considerations used in the maintenance of campus facilities.

The campus has a Personal Safety Committee which conducts facilities audits from a safety perspective. Deficiencies are identified and corrected when reported. Campus community members with security concerns should contact the Department of Public Safety directly.

Most campus facilities are open to the public under existing campus policies. Residential areas are limited to residents and guests. Residential rooms are lockable and exterior doors on the South Campus and the North Campus Governor's Complex, and the Joseph Ellicott Complex are controlled through a card reader system.

The following are current campus policies concerning campus law enforcement including: (i) the enforcement authority of security personnel, including their working relationship with the State and local police agencies; and (ii) policies which encourage accurate and prompt reporting of all crimes to the campus police and the appropriate police agencies.

Public Safety Department campus law enforcement personnel have the full state authority to enforce and investigate all laws and regulations. The Department is in daily contact with the City of Buffalo and Town of Amherst police departments, the Erie County Sheriff's Office and the New York State Police. The Department maintains 24-hour-a-day radio and teletype contact with area law enforcement agencies.

Jurisdiction of campus law enforcement personnel as peace officers is limited to the campus and highways that are adjacent to or travel through the campus. Personnel may engage in "hot" pursuit into the surrounding community.

Department personnel conduct crime prevention and awareness programs for the campus encouraging members of the community to take responsibility for their own safety. The programs include safety videos, distribution of materials, presentations to student, faculty, and staff groups, newspaper alerts, and participation in campus-wide events.

The following describes the type and frequency of campus programs designated to inform students and employees about campus security procedures and practices and to encourage students and employees to share responsibility for their own security and the security of others.

The following is a description of programs designed to inform students and employees about the prevention of crimes.

The campus has an active crime prevention and awareness program. The Department of Public Safety conducts a series of campus programs on topics related to sexual assault, self defense, personal safety and general crime prevention. Presentations are made in the residence halls, at employee and student orientation programs, campus activity fairs, and for campus bargaining units on request. To make arrangements for a group presentation, call Public Safety directly. Information about Public Safety is also available on the computerized campus-wide information system "Wings," under "University Services" or "Student Life."

The campus Personal Safety Task Force prepares an annual report on campus security for review. The Task Force also conducts open forums, distributes printed information, and arranges for appropriate campus safety related signage. The Director of the Department of Public Safety serves as chairperson of the Task Force.

In addition, safety and security programs for students are offered by Residence Life and Student Life offices. Residential students discuss safety issues at mandatory floor meetings and are provided with security related printed materials. Student Life conducts orientation programming on campus, which include security information in printed student guidebooks, distribution of a personal safety brochure, and a sexual assault prevention brochure, and related presentations on these topics. The presentations are conducted by Student Life, Public Safety, and the University Counseling Center.

The following is UB's campus policy concerning the monitoring and recording through local police agencies of criminal activity at off-campus student organizations which are recognized by the institutions and that are engaged in by students attending the institution, including those student organizations with off-campus housing facilities.

Local community law enforcement agencies are encouraged to monitor and respond to off-campus student and student organization criminal activities. The campus participates in a neighborhood advisory board to monitor student activity in the area surrounding the South Campus. Law enforcement personnel and community leaders are invited to meet annually with student-organization leadership, particularly the campus fraternities and sororities.

Students are advised if they are apprehended for a violation of law of the community, State, or nation, it is the University's position not to request or agree to special consideration for the student because of his or her student status. Students who violate a local ordinance or any law risk the legal penalties prescribed by civil authorities.

The following describes current campus policy regarding the possession, use, and sale of alcoholic beverages and enforcement of State underage drinking laws and a statement of policy regarding the possession, use, and sale of illegal drugs and enforcement of Federal and State drug laws and a description of any drug or alcohol abuse education programs.

The campus complies with State and federal laws regarding the possession, sale, and consumption of alcohol and illegal drugs. All students are provided with an annual Drug Free Schools and Community Act compliance statement, which details campus policies, treatment and counseling programs, and education efforts. Faculty and staff members receive this statement and the campus Drug Free Workplace Policy.

For additional copies of these policies, contact Student Affairs (542 Capen Hall) or Personnel Services (108 Crofts Hall).

The following describes the current campus policy with regard to sexual assaults.

The University conducts a number of training and information programs to familiarize faculty, staff, and students with the procedures to follow should a sexual assault occur. These programs are conducted by the Public Safety Department, the University Health Services, the Student Life Department, and by numbers of student groups including the Anti-Rape Task Force and the Sexuality Education Center. Resident students attend mandatory floor meetings on this topic, and the topic is covered in the University's orientation sessions.

Students are informed that the University will impose maximum disciplinary sanctions and advise the victim of his/her rights to notify law enforcement authorities and the Univer-sity's willingness to assist in doing so. If victims wish to press charges, the University will arrest and charge the accused offender on campus. Disciplinary action could include dismissal from the University. The accuser and the accused will have their legal rights maintained and both will be informed of the outcome of any internal and external proceedings. The victim is notified of available counseling, mental health, and other services both on campus and in the community. Public Safety and the University Health Services will provide a Crisis Services Sexual Assault Advocate and female officers are available to assist at all times. Victims also have the right to change their academic and living situations and will be assisted in doing so if they choose. Information concerning the University's sexual assault protocol and prevention are available in a number of University brochures which receive wide distribution on campus. There is also a recorded sexual assault information line, (645-3411) for information on action to take in the event of a sexual assault, options in reporting, and resources available to a victim.

The following is UB's campus policy on timely reports to the campus community on crimes considered to be a threat to other students and employees that are reported to campus security or local law police agencies. Such reports shall be provided to students and employees in a manner that is timely and that will aid in the prevention of similar occurrences.

The Department of Public Safety publishes a weekly listing of crime on campus that details the date, time, location and offense of all campus criminal incidents. The listing is circulated to campus offices and is summarized weekly in the campus newspaper, the Reporter.

In addition, Public Safety uses the student newspaper, The Spectrum, telephone calls, posters and local media to communicate more urgent security information and can provide bulletins to departments and units on crime activity as warranted.

For further information, contact:

Prepared by: Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Department of Public Safety in compliance with the federal Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act (Title II Crime Awareness and Campus Security). 9/94