Introduction
Because of Bethel’s strong commitment to being a community of people who trust and respect each other, you can feel safe on the campus. Read the report on campus crime and fire statistics. However, this does not mean that reasonable safeguards should not be taken. All members of the community are encouraged to observe the following:
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- If walking in less well lighted areas after dark, carry a flashlight or walk with a companion.
- Lock your door when you leave your room.
- Guard your keys; do not loan them to others.
- If anyone makes comments to you that make you feel uncomfortable or threatened in any way, say so and/or walk away. If anyone continues this behavior after you have asked them to stop, report it to any member of the student life staff.
- Inform your CA immediately of any acts that threaten the safety or security of the residence hall, or of the presence of persons who should not be in the building.
- Know the location of emergency telephones on campus. There are four Emergency Stations (with blue light feature) and two Red Metal Box Emergency Phones (for a total of six emergency options on campus), each are set up to dial 911.
Notification Methods
In the event of a crisis situation, students may be notified via:
- Bethel e-mail
- SMS (text)
- Push notifications (LiveSafe App)
LiveSafe
LiveSafe is Bethel College’s official emergency communication system. All students have been automatically added, so you will receive important emergency alerts through text message and/or email. If you download the LiveSafe app, you’ll also receive push notifications directly to your phone for the fastest updates.
You can also use LiveSafe for:
- Quickly reporting suspicious or unsafe activity to campus security. This can be done anonymously or not.
- SafeWalk: lets friends or family monitor your location while you walk so they know you made it safely
- Panic Alarm: alerts response team with your exact location without you having to type or speak
Emergency Stations
The emergency stations are hard to miss on campus due to their height and the blue light on top of the pole. The station has a red emergency button that will call 911 when pressed.
Emergency stations are located:
- Walking path between the south entry of Will Academic Center (WAC) and the northeast corner of Haury Hall
- East side of Fine Arts Center (FAC) parking lot between the Schultz Student Center and the FAC
- North of the walking bridge headed toward Goering Hall
- East end of Voth Hall sidewalk by Voth parking lot
Emergency Phones on Campus
Emergency Phones are located at the following locations:
- Walking path between the south entry of Will Academic Center (WAC) and the northeast corner of Haury Hall
- East side of Fine Arts Center (FAC) parking lot between the Schultz Student Center and the FAC
- North of the walking bridge headed toward Goering Hall
- East end of Voth Hall sidewalk by Voth parking lot
- Red metal box at Haury Hall on the west wall just north of the front sidewalk
- Red metal box at Goering Hall on the west exterior wall
Emergency Numbers
| Police, fire or ambulance: | 911 |
|---|---|
| Campus building security: | 316-284-5254 |
| or Adam Akers | 316-650-0137 |
| Student life: | 316-284-5324 |
| Newton Medical Center: | 316-283-2700 |
| Prairie View Mental Health Center: | 316-283-2400 |
Addressing the Media
Only authorized spokesperson(s) of Bethel College will meet or talk with the media. These people are the President and/or the Director of Marketing and Communication. Either of these individuals may delegate this role to another employee for a specific incident but no other Bethel employees are to speak to external persons, especially the media, on behalf of the college.
Weapons
Employees are prohibited from possessing or carrying a firearm, ammunition or weapon while acting in the course and scope of their employment, either on or off Bethel College property, regardless of whether the employee has a permit to carry a firearm.
- Firearm – is defined as a gun, whether loaded or unloaded, that discharges shot or a projectile by means of an explosive, a gas or compressed air (e.g. stun guns, airsoft, paintball, BB guns, spear guns, pistols, lasers, and Tasers)
- Ammunition – shotgun shells, bullets, BBs, pellets, and other projectiles discharged from a firearm
- Weapon – means hunting knives, retractable bladed knives with a fixed blade over 2.5 inches (used for any purpose other than cooking), daggers, machetes, bows and arrows, spears, clubs, swords, slingshots, and martial arts equipment
- Other items or implements used for aggressive or violent purposes are prohibited
- Firearms, ammunition or weapons may not be stored on Bethel property. This includes employee vehicles parked on Bethel’s property.
Employee Reporting Responsibility – an employee with a reasonable basis for believing an individual is in possession of or carrying a firearm, ammunition or a weapon in violation of this policy has a responsibility to report the suspected act in a timely manner unless doing so would subject the employee or others to immediate physical harm. Reports should be made to the employee’s supervisor or to an administrator of Bethel College. This policy shall not prohibit prompt notification to appropriate law enforcement authorities when an immediate threat to personal safety exists.
Tobacco Free Environment
Bethel College is a tobacco-free environment. Smoking and the use of tobacco and related products is prohibited in all buildings and vehicles. Smoking includes the use of any smoking device or equipment that includes but is not limited to cigarettes, cigars, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), hookahs, marijuana, pipes, and vaporizers. Employees and students may use tobacco only in the designated outdoor areas on campus and must utilize the designated receptacles for disposal.
Designated outdoor tobacco smoking areas are:
- South side of Kidron Cottage
- Between Voth Hall and Warkentin Court on the west side of the road