The University of Wisconsin-River Falls is committed to providing a residence hall environment which promotes personal as well as community development. We are concerned with the safety and welfare of all members of the University community and desire to support responsible choices involving the consumption of alcohol and non-alcohol beverages. The possession and/or consumption of alcohol beverages in moderation is a privilege for residents of legal drinking age in private living quarters. Resident rights to privacy, sleep, and study within their own rooms will be honored. Loud and/or disruptive behavior, interference with the cleanliness of the residence halls, or drinking habits which are injurious to the health or welfare of an individual or to those within the community will result in disciplinary action or referral. The unlawful use, manufacture, sale, distribution or possession of alcohol and controlled substances by all students is prohibited. Fines for underage drinking, for underage possession of alcohol, and for providing alcohol to persons under the legal drinking age are severe.

The legal drinking age in Wisconsin is 21.

Alcohol may be possessed or consumed in student rooms by those residents and their invited guests who are 21 years of age or older. Residence hall students of legal drinking age, or guests of legal drinking age, who consume alcohol in residence hall rooms must abide by other rules and regulations, including federal and state laws regarding procuring, selling, or distributing alcohol to persons under the age of 21 that prevail and must also be considerate of others. Residents are responsible for the actions of their guests.

Fire safety and sanitation requirements prohibit cooking within the residence hall rooms. Limited kitchenette space is specifically designed for light snacks. Residents must clean kitchenettes. All food must be kept in closed containers.

The washing of dishes is not permitted in washroom sinks. Dishes must be washed in kitchen sinks. Excess food should be disposed of in the garbage, not the sinks.

The unlawful use, possession, distribution, manufacture or dispensing of illicit drugs (drugs includes any chemical substance, compound or combination when used to: induce an altered state; and/or including any otherwise lawfully available product, such as over the counter or prescription drugs, used for any purpose other than its intended use) or narcotics or possession of drug paraphernalia is prohibited on University property. Students suspected of violating the drug policy will be referred to the Residence Life conduct system where reasonable suspicion may result in disciplinary action. Repeated violations of suspected use that is a violation of Residence Life policy will not be tolerated and will be considered violations of Residence Life policy resulting in serious consequences.

Possession or prescription medication other than your own is also a violation of this policy. Violations of this statute will be referred to University Police and River Falls Police Department. Fines associated with illegal use of controlled substances can be severe.

New for Fall 2012 students will not be allowed to bring in their own refrigerator or microwave. The university is providing every room with a 5.6 cubic foot microfridge unit. For fire safety reasons, space heaters, halogen lamps/lights, toasters, toaster ovens, George Foreman type grills, Quesadilla Makers, and pizza ovens are not permitted in the residence halls. Residence Life reserves the right to remove any unauthorized or dangerous electrical appliances.

Exception only for Spring 2012 - students may use their own microwave as the university provided one will be installed during the summer of 2012.

George R. Field South Fork Suites (SFS) residents may bring other small kitchen appliances with the exception of pizza ovens and toaster ovens. It is strongly encouraged that you purchase appliances with auto-shut off functions for safety. SFS residents are not allowed to bring a personal refrigerator, microwave, or freezer for the suite or bedroom areas.

Personally-owned air conditions are not allowed. Window units may be requested at additional cost only for verified extreme medical conditions. Approved window units must be installed by Residence Life and are the property of the University.

Residents and guests of the residence halls are expected to comply with the reasonable request(s), written or verbal, of a University official (i.e. Residence Life staff, faculty/staff, University Police), acting in accordance with his/her job duties (this may include opening your door when it is requested by University staff.) Such acts may include but are not limited to intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly obstructing or delaying any University proceedings, failing to cooperate with an investigation, fleeing an incident and/or failing to comply with assigned University behavior sanctions.

Furthermore, any verbal or physical abuse of staff members will be immediately referred to the Student Conduct system and may result in contract termination and referral to the University Conduct System.

It is against state law and University regulations to tamper with or misuse any fire equipment. Persons placing false fire alarms, interfering with a fire alarm system, interfering with firemen, tampering with or removing firefighting equipment are subject to prosecution under Wisconsin Statutes and University disciplinary action.

Residents and guests must leave the building by the designated exit whenever the fire alarm sounds. Fire alarm tests are announced and residents may remain in their residence halls only during announced fire alarm tests.

No person may light, build or use, or cause another to light, build or use, any fires, including but not limited to burning candles, incense, gasoline or charcoal cooking appliances’ on University land or in University facilities. Items which require an open or smoldering flame to operate are not allowed in resident rooms or anywhere else in the residence halls.

Students who set off an on-campus fire alarm due to cooking may be assessed the costs associated with Emergency responders.

Grilling is permitted in designated areas in accordance with the following policies:

• Residents may check out equipment, including charcoal, at residence hall front desks.

• Residents must properly dispose of ashes in provided ash cans located near grills.

• Residents are responsible for cleaning the grilling area and disposing of all trash appropriately.

• Due to close proximity to the residence halls, residents should be considerate of others and keep noise to a minimum, especially during quiet hours.

Residents are not permitted to store flammable items in their rooms including charcoal or lighter fluid.

The Department of Residence Life is committed to providing a climate which fosters respect for students, staff and faculty as well as others who participate in programs and activities at the University. As part of that commitment, harassment based on gender, race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or protected activity is prohibited. All methods of harassment including but not limited to; telephone, computer, written, verbal, etc.) are inappropriate.

Sexual harassment is defined as: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when

• submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment or academic achievement,

• submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions or academic decisions affecting such individual, or

• such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.

Behavior that would reasonably be considered inappropriate conduct for a residence hall community and not addressed in other specific policies is prohibited.

• Horseplay, pranks, the making of messes, or any other action which damages property or disturbs others will be considered inappropriate for the residence hall environment and surrounding area.

• Lewd, indecent or obscene behavior that flagrantly flaunts community standards with respect to sexuality is prohibited.

• Making unauthorized video or photographic images of a person in a location in which that person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, including, but not limited to, shower/locker rooms, residence hall rooms, and restrooms, is prohibited.

• Verbal abuse that involves an expressed or implied threat to interfere with an individual's personal safety, safety of property, academic efforts, employment, or participation in the University sponsored extracurricular activities is prohibited.

State Statute 968.075, as amended by 1989 Wisconsin Act 293, concerning domestic abuse includes mandatory arrest provisions. These apply to roommates in residence halls or individuals who have ever shared the same residential address. Domestic abuse, as defined in the amended section of the state statute, means any of the following engaged in by an adult person against an adult with whom the person resides: Intentional infliction of physical pain, physical injury or illness; intentional impairment of physical condition; a physical act that may cause the other person reasonably to fear imminent physical harm as described above.

This state statute requires that the responding officer place the person under custodial arrest when the following criteria are met:

1. The officer has probable cause to believe that person is committing or has committed domestic abuse, and

2. The officer has probable cause to believe that those acts constitute the commission of a crime, and

3. The officer has a reasonable basis to believe continued domestic abuse against the alleged victim is likely, or

4. There is evidence of physical injury to the alleged victim. (This does not require that the injury be visible.)

The responding officer must determine whether all three of the above criteria are met. If the answer is yes, the officer must place the person under arrest and take that person into custody.

The following hours have been designated as Quiet Hours in all Residence Halls:

• Sunday-Thursday: 10:00pm-8:00am

• Friday and Saturday: 1:00am-8:00am

During these hours noise must be kept to a minimum to allow study and sleep. Students creating excessive noise may be asked to remove stereos or musical instruments from their rooms and guests may be asked to exit the building. Playing music out of residence hall windows is prohibited. Musical instruments may not be played in student rooms except for electronic instruments with headphones.

The remaining hours of the day are designated as Courtesy Hours and reasonable noise levels should be maintained. During final exams quiet hours are extended.

At no time will the Noise Policy enforcement steps preclude the possibility of staff or students contacting University Police because of a particularly difficult and/or disruptive situation. A citation such as disorderly conduct may be brought against the student(s) in such cases. Repeat violations may result in contract termination.

In order to allow students to create a personalized room environment, students are permitted to decorate their living space (room, room door, and room window) within the following guidelines:

• No items may be hung from the ceiling.

• Barn wood, paneling, enclosed multi-level structures, natural holiday trees or wreaths, and any construction which creates a fire, safety or health hazard will not be permitted.

• Running electrical cords under room doors is prohibited.

• Construction, decoration or arrangement of furniture in a manner which hinders exit from the room is not permitted.

• Waterbeds and foam back carpeting or foam padding underneath carpeting is prohibited.

• Residents posting items that target specific individuals in a harmful, harassing, or intimidating manner will be asked to remove the items.

• Weight lifting equipment or barbells may not be kept or used in student rooms.