Rules and Regulations for Residence Halls/Areas

The following standards are designed to maximize the positive aspects of residence hall living by stating behavioral expectations of all residents:

1. The following items are prohibited in the resident’s room:
   • Various electrical appliances, such as halogen lamps, “rainbow” lamps, extension cords, hot plates, heating coils, toaster ovens, air conditioners, pannini grills, microwave ovens, space heaters, grills, sun lamps, cooking equipment of any kind, and octopus plugs. Microwaves, toasters and toaster ovens are allowed in Bushnell, Tisdale, and the Pondside II Apartments, as well as One Butler Court, Pondside III, and the Owl’s Nest Suites (3, 8 & 9).
   • Exterior antennae, satellite dishes or other items that are placed outside the room window or attached to the window screen
   • Waterbeds/water-filled furniture
   • Additional furnishings (which may be a concern related to fire safety) not authorized by the Director of Residential Life and Housing Services and/or his or her designee are prohibited, including dartboards, futons, beanbag furniture, inflatable furniture (including air mattresses), oversized pillows (e.g., 2 feet x 2 feet or larger) except for body pillows.
   • Pets or animals of any kind (with the exception of fish kept in an aquarium). Aquariums can be no more than 10 gallons.
2. Food preparation is not permitted except in designated areas where kitchen facilities are located.
3. Refrigerators may be used in student rooms provided they do not exceed 2 cubic feet. Double rooms are permitted one refrigerator. Individual bedrooms with actual occupancies of three or more students are permitted two refrigerators. Only 1 refrigerator is permitted in the common area of a suite or apartment.
4. All state laws and College regulations pertaining to alcohol apply in the residence halls. The possession or use of alcoholic beverages is restricted to those persons age 21 or over and can only be consumed in the resident’s room or those areas reserved for alcohol functions. Where no residents of the room are of legal age to consume alcoholic beverages, alcohol is not permitted to be brought into the room by any outside visitors or students. No alcohol is to be consumed in public areas (e.g., outside, hallways, bathrooms, lounges, and so forth). For more information, see the Policy on Alcohol and Other Drugs section of this handbook.
5. Courtesy Hours are intended to provide an atmosphere conducive to normal living and study, and must be maintained 24 hours a day in the residence halls. Residents are prohibited from causing loud or disturbing sounds which may interfere with the rights of other students or members of the surrounding community, including, but not limited to, the right to rest, study, and be free of unnecessary or unwarranted distractions. Residents are expected to be courteous and, upon request or complaint, to lower the noise level of activities.
6. Quiet Hours are in effect from 9 p.m. until 8 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, midnight through 8 a.m., Friday and Saturday. The Residence Hall Organization in each area (with the exception of quiet-study floors/halls) may extend designated quiet hours with a 2/3 vote of hall residents. Residents responsible for violation of quiet hours will be subject to disciplinary action. Additionally, residents can be required to remove stereos or musical instruments from their rooms. Stereo speakers may never be placed in windows so as to be heard outside the room and building. Twenty-four hour quiet hours are in effect in all residence halls 24 hours a day, commencing at 9 p.m. on the last day of classes and continuing through the semester close of the residence halls. Students violating 24-hour quiet hours or causing any disruption will be directed to leave the residence hall immediately and will not be permitted to return until the close of final examinations.
7. To help provide for the safety of residents, periodic fire drills are scheduled, and students are required to vacate the building. The fire fighting equipment, the fire alarm system, and appropriate procedures are provided for the protection of life and property of students. Tampering with, or misuse of fire alarms, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and/or failure to comply with related procedures is a serious infraction of College policy. This includes attaching items to or hanging them from the sprinkler pipes and sprinkler heads, as well as misusing exit doors designated for emergency use only.
8. Space permitting, bicycles may be stored in designated areas of the residence halls but may not be parked or stored in stairways, hallways, or near exits because of the potential danger to pedestrians.
9. The possession of firearms, ammunition, and other weapons (e.g., bow and arrow, knives, paintball guns, air guns, BB guns) is prohibited. Possession or use of firecrackers, gunpowder, and other explosive or combustible materials is of utmost concern because of potential for personal injury and disruptive impact in the halls. For more information, see “Weapons” in the Campus Policies section of this handbook.
10. To avoid fire hazards, possession of incense or any type of candle or paraphernalia associated with candle burning is not permitted in the residence halls..
11. Residents will be held accountable for verbal or physical abuse or the threat of physical abuse against any person in the residence halls or at any authorized event, or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any such person(s).
12. The College does not permit possession, sale, or use of drugs, which are illegal (including alcohol for minors) and which may involve physiological or psychological hazards, or lead to interference with the rights and privileges of others. Students who violate College and Residential Life policies and procedures while under the influence of drugs will be subject to disciplinary action. For more information, see the Policy on Alcohol and Other Drugs section of this handbook.
13. Residents are not permitted on residence hall roofs or window ledges at any time.
14. Sports are not permitted to be played in any residence hall. This includes, but is not limited to wrestling, hockey, rollerblading, Frisbee, Wiffle ball, and darts. Variations of these sports using substitute items are also prohibited.
15. For health and safety reasons, no sports or athletic equipment are to be used in residential facilities, other than when supplied by or sanctioned by a Residential Life sponsored event. In addition, at the discretion of the Residence Director, certain athletic activities may be prohibited from being played in close proximity to residential facilities.
16. Window screens are not to be loosened or removed under any circumstances. Due to the danger to lives and property, dropping, throwing, or in any other manner allowing objects (liquid or solid) to be ejected into or out of the residence halls is prohibited. Residents of a room are considered responsible for any object ejected into or out of their room windows.
17. Tape, adhesives, nails, screws, and so forth, may be used only on bulletin boards and not on walls, ceilings, doors, and so forth, as these items often scratch or deface facilities. All types of room decorations must be hung flat to the walls.
18. In accordance with New Hampshire state law and the College’s Tobacco Policy, all spaces within residence halls are smoke free and smoking is prohibited within approximately 20 feet of the exterior of every residential building. Residence Directors will designate appropriate smoking areas around residential facilities and distribute the information at the start of each academic year.
19. In all residential facilities, community restrooms have gender designations, and their use is limited exclusively to a person of that gender.
20. Residents are expected to provide identification upon the request of a College staff member acting in the performance of his or her duties.
21. Theft or possession of stolen goods, including illegal possession of or damage to property of the College or property of a person in the residence halls, is prohibited.
22. Residents may not alter the existing wiring system or seek to install an additional telephone or wireless router. Charge-a-call telephones are provided in various areas of the residence hall system. Local telephone service with a voice mailbox is provided in each room. Students must provide their own phone. Misuse of telephones (harassing calls, extra lines, and so forth) are considered serious violations and will be dealt with through campus judicial and/or civil action.
23. Solicitations and sales by outside agencies are forbidden in the residence halls, unless approved by the Director of Residential Life and Housing Services.
24. Students/organizations seeking to have materials (flyers, advertisements, and so forth) posted in the residence halls must get approval from the Residential Life Office. See Residential Life Posting Policy in the Use of Facilities section.