Annapolis Office of Public Safety

Personal Safety

Student Handbook: Please see the Student Handbook for the rules of residence and an outline of the penalties for breaking them.

Personal Whistle Safety Program: St. John's College has personal safety whistles available at no charge for students. These whistles signal your need for help, frighten away someone who means you harm, or alert those nearby to call the police or a public safety officer. Our public safety officers and those police officers of the jurisdictions surrounding the campus are aware that the sound of the whistle means someone is in danger. The whistles can be obtained at the Public Safety office.

Campus Escort Service: Escorts to and from campus locations are available for students. Contact Public Safety at Ext. 2000.

Operation ID: Identification of Valuables; Operation ID is available through the Office of Public Safety. Students may use an engraver to mark and identify valuable personal articles as a precaution against theft.

Campus Lighting: Campus Lighting is another important part of the St. John's College commitment to safety and security. There are two campus lighting tours conducted each year. Lighting problems or inefficiencies are immediately reported to Buildings and Grounds for corrective action. A comprehensive survey of all exterior lighting is annually conducted by members of the Assistant Dean's Office, Business Office, Buildings and Grounds and Public Safety. Landscaping on campus is maintained by trimming shrubbery and trees to enhance safety and security. The staff of the offices of Public Safety and Buildings and Grounds inspects campus facilities regularly. Any conditions which affect the safety and security of the campus such as broken windows or locks, burned-out lights and malfunctioning fire safety equipment are reported and repaired immediately. If you notice any safety hazard, please report it to the Public Safety or Assistant Dean's Office.

Personal Safety Tips:
Simple precautions can reduce the likelihood that you will become the victim of a crime.

1.  Be alert at all times:  Your safety depends mostly upon your own attitude and actions.Use common sense and do not place yourself in a location or situation to become a victim of crime.

2.  Report criminal activities or emergency situations:  For police, fire or medical emergencies, you may contact Public Safety by calling 2000. You may also use any of the emergency phones throughout the campus. The campus community is encouraged to report all crimes and safety-related incidents to Public Safety or the Assistant Dean's Office as quickly as possible.

3.  If you become aware of a crime, observe a suspicious person or situation or are a victim yourself promptly report it to the Office of Public Safety.  Timely reports increase the likelihood that critical evidence will be obtained, stolen property will be recovered and the offender will be successfully prosecuted. This is especially important in cases involving sex offenses. The College will assist any student who wishes to report a crime to the Annapolis Police, or to contact College Counselors or area victim support services.

4.  Avoid walking alone at night.  Make arrangements to walk in groups. If you must travel alone at night, stay on well-lit paths and sidewalks. You may also call Public Safety and request an escort call ext 2000.

5.  Keep your room door locked at all times.  Locking your door with your key, wherever you reside, is an effective way to reduce theft and enhance personal safety. The vast majority of thefts occur from unlocked rooms when the occupant is gone only briefly. Do not prop open exterior doors, and close any doors you find propped open. Propped doors are a high risk and greatly increase chances that you or someone else in your dorm may be victimized. Do not open your door to someone you do not know.

6.  DO NOT lend your key or key card to anyone.  This endangers you and others in your dormitory and is cause for disciplinary action. Report a lost or stolen key to the Office of Public Safety.

7.  Report obscene, annoying or harassing phone calls or e-Mail messages immediately.  Public Safety will investigate, and as patterns develop, they will work closely with the Telephone Company to apprehend offenders. Please print out the offending e-mail(s) if possible.

8  Report all security-related maintenance problems.  Locks, doors, windows, exterior lights in need of replacement, shrubbery in need of trimming or other unsafe conditions should be reported immediately to the Building and Grounds Office. College facilities and landscaping are maintained in a manner to minimize hazardous conditions.

9.  Identify your valuables using OPERATION ID.  Engravers are available for students to use. Record their serial numbers on the provided form. Then be sure to keep your copy in a safe place.

10.  Park your car in well lit area and keep it locked.  Lock all valuables in your trunk. If you have expensive stereo equipment, etc., consider buying an alarm system.

11.  Register your bicycle with the Office of Public Safety.  They will issue a registration sticker to affix to your bicycle to deter theft and aid in recovery if it is stolen. Campus Police strongly recommends a U-style lock. A registered and properly locked bicycle is much less likely to be stolen.

12.  Be aware of campus crimes in or around St. John's College.  Additional information on campus crime is available from the Office of Public Safety. Bulletins are issued through the Assistant Dean's office when the circumstances warrant informing the community of important crime related information.

13.  Suspicious persons/activities.  Be aware of suspicious persons, questionable actions, dangerous conditions. Your observations may be valuable. Time is important. Call public safety immediately.
The following information will help:

  • The individual's height, weight, age, and complexion, dress, speech, movements, and anything unusual in appearance or actions. If there are two or more individuals involved, concentrate on one. Compare physical proportions and age with those of someone you know.
  • Distinguishing marks such as a ring or other jewelry, tattoo or scar, missing tooth or finger, bowlegs or limp, etc.
  • If a car is used, record the color, make, and license number.

Sexual Assault Awareness: Sexual assault is conduct of a sexual nature resulting in physical contact with the victim without the victim’s consent. This action must be committed either by force, by intimidation, or by knowingly making use of the victim’s physical or mental helplessness. Consent cannot be given by someone who is so incapacitated, by alcohol or other drugs or for some other reason, as not to be able to communicate unwillingness or to understand the nature of the conduct being engaged in. Silence on the part of the victim does not necessarily constitute consent.

If you have been sexually assaulted or suspect you have been sexually assaulted:

  • If sexual intercourse of any kind has occurred, or you have been physically hurt in any way, go to the Health Center or AAMC Emergency Room immediately, or find a public safety officer (443-336-2348 or extension 2000). You can decide later whether or not to press charges, but it is critical that you receive medical attention and caring support as soon as possible.
  • Whether or not you are sure that what happened was an assault, talk to a counselor, senior resident, resident assistant, public safety officer, the director of student services, or the assistant dean for advice and support.
  • The Counseling Center is available to support students who have been sexually assaulted. There is a counselor on call at all times; ask the Public Safety officer to call a counselor if you need immediate support after hours. During office hours, go directly to the Health Center and ask for help. To make an appointment with a counselor, call extension 2552, or 410-626-2552 from a non campus phone.
  • The assistant dean is responsible for helping students respond to a sexual assault and for whatever college response is warranted in the situation. Seek the assistant dean’s help if you have been assaulted or suspect you might have been. Bring a friend for support if it helps. Call 410-626-2512 to make an appointment, or just drop by the office.
  • For more information on sexual assault, see the Student Handbook section on Sexual Assault.

What You Can Do To Reduce Your Risk

  • When you’re preparing for a date or a party, take care of your safety also. Have your cell phone charged and with you. Program the Public Safety phone number into your phone contacts. St. John’s College Public Safety is at 443-336-2348 or extension 2000. Let your friends or roommate know where you are going and with whom.
  • Practice good personal safety habits. Always lock your door whether at home or away. Don’t admit anyone you don’t know into your residence hall. Report any suspicious persons or activity to Public Safety. Call for an on-campus walking escort when you are without one, Public Safety: 443-336-2348 or extension 2000.
  • If you attend group gatherings or parties, go with friends you trust.
  • Trust your instincts. If you find yourself in a situation where something feels wrong, look for a way out of the situation—move closer to other people or seek out a safe way to get home. If you feel unsafe or think you may be at risk, leave the situation immediately. Do not be afraid to be rude if you feel unsafe!
  • Don’t ignore sudden feelings of mistrust regarding someone you are with just because you have known the person for a long time.
  • Never leave a drink unattended or accept a drink that you did not see poured. Date-rape drugs can leave you unable to protect yourself, or even know what is happening to you.
  • If you’re going to drink, stop when you begin to feel the effects of alcohol. The more you drink, the harder it is to know when to stop. When you’re drunk, you are more vulnerable.
  • Be particularly aware that alcohol and drugs interfere with a person's ability to make clear decisions and communicate effectively.
  • Make sure you have friends who have your back, especially when you’re drinking.
  • You have the right to say "no" to any undesired sexual contact. State your limits clearly and firmly. Don't assume that your date or acquaintance automatically knows how you feel.

What You Can Do to Avoid Being an Agressor

  • Be respectful. Anytime you are uncertain whether your partner is comfortable with your behavior, ask! You can simply say, “Are you okay with this?”
  • Assume that “no” means no. What’s more, assume that “I’m not sure” means no.
  • If you’re going to drink, drink responsibly. Most sexual assaults on college campuses follow drinking by one or both individuals.
  • Be aware of how alcohol affects you. Drinking can lead to aggression in some people.
  • Being drunk is not a defense for committing sexual assault.
  • Understand that a person who is drunk may not be legally capable of giving consent. If you suspect that the other person is not capable of making an informed decision, do not have sex.
  • Recognize that your sexual needs do not give you the right to do whatever you want. Any sexual activity should be mutually desired.
  • If you think a grope or “feeling someone up” is just innocent fun, think again. Not only is such behavior disrespectful to the other person, but in some cases, you could be arrested for these actions.

What You Can Do to Look Out for Others

  • Pay attention to where your friends are and what they are doing at parties.
  • Trust your instincts about your friends. If you notice a friend leaving the party with someone he or she normally wouldn’t leave with, say something to the friend, a third person, or a Senior Resident.
  • If you approach someone leaving a party under worrisome circumstances, you can ask the friend if he or she is ok; invite the friend to come with you to find another mutual friend, get some food, etc; tell the friend to come join the party; invite yourself along for the walk, or make some other low key comment that will give the person a chance to leave the situation without you making an explicit assumption of what anyone’s intentions are.
  • Don’t be afraid to be rude, especially if the situation is obviously unsafe.
  • If you notice that a friend has had too much to drink, be especially attentive regarding who the person is talking to or leaving with.
  • If you are concerned about someone’s behavior at a campus party, either because of possible aggression or possible risk to the individual, tell a Senior Resident. He or she can help you check out the situation.
  • Warn others about high risk situations.