Alcohol
College policies regarding the sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic beverages in the residence halls adhere closely to Federal, State, or local laws. These policies include:
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It is unlawful for any person under twenty-one years of age to purchase, possess, or consume any alcoholic beverage.
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Students who provide alcoholic beverages to under age individuals are in violation of state law. North Carolina law holds providers of alcohol liable for any injuries to the consumers or others that may occur because of the use of alcoholic beverages.
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There shall be no alcohol consumed in any public areas of a residence hall, including lounges, hallways, bathrooms, stairwells, or surrounding areas.
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No alcohol in the residence hall may be provided from common containers, including, but not limited to, kegs, punch bowls, Jell-O, pony kegs, beer balls, trashcans, and funnels.
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Advertising of alcohol or the availability of alcohol at any function on campus is strictly forbidden.
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Student hall staff members monitor and enforce policies on the use of alcoholic beverages in residence halls and report any infractions to the appropriate personnel in the Residence Life Office.
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See Davidson College's Alcohol and Drug Policies for further information.
Large parties are not allowed within residence halls spaces due to the smaller size of the rooms and fact that most residents of the hall are not over 21.
Bicycles
Students must keep all bicycles outside at a bicycle rack or inside their room. Fire code prohibits the storage of bicycles in hallways, lounges, stairwells, and porches. Building Services or Campus Police will impound bicycles found in these areas (locks cut off if necessary) and Campus Police will store them. The college may dispose of bicycles left on-campus at the conclusion of the academic year.
Candles and Other Incendiaries
The use of incendiary agents, including, but not limited to the list below is prohibited. A fine of $50.00 may be assessed for the following items:
- Candles and Incense (open flame devices): In conjunction with fire safety regulations, the college prohibits open flames of any kind in the residence hall rooms (specifically candles, incense and oil lamps).
- Fireworks: The college strictly forbids the possession or use of fireworks, or any other incendiary agent in or near the residence halls. Anyone discovered using fireworks will be charged with a Code of Responsibility violation in addition to incurring the $50 fine described above.
- Halogen Lamps: The college strictly prohibits halogen lamps in the residence halls as they create serious fire hazards. The halogen bulb becomes extremely hot and can ignite fabric up to five feet away.
- Holiday Decorations: The college strictly prohibits live Christmas trees (including in Patterson Court Houses) as they dry out and can catch fire easily. When using artificial trees, residents should not allow lighting wires to make contact with any metallic part of the tree. Holiday Lights should not be strung through suspended ceiling tiles or near fire suppression sprinkler heads, and should not come into contact with any wrapping paper, metallic foil, etc. Decorative lights must be turned off and unplugged when no one is in the room.
Combustible Materials Fire Code also prohibits the placement of a combustion engine inside a residential dwelling. Therefore, all motor vehicles, including motorcycles, scooters etc., may not be parked inside any room or building on campus. Residents must leave any motor vehicle, either fuel or electric propelled, outside in a campus designated parking space. No vehicles may be parked on porches in Martin Court.
Combustible materials including, but not limited to: lighter fluid, motor oil, fireworks, propane, and gasoline are prohibited inside all residential facilities.
Residents are not allowed to "cook out" near residence halls. Students may not keep gas and charcoal grills inside a residence hall. The college provides grills throughout campus for student use. RLO and Public Safety must authorize any other areas for "cooking out."
Dartboards
The college strictly prohibits darts and dartboards in residential areas (including public areas) as they cause extensive damage to walls and furniture. Students who damage walls with darts will incur damage charges upon check-out.
Drugs
The college strictly prohibits the use, possession, sale, and/or distribution of any illegal drugs. The college will discipline students involved in such activities. In most cases, students caught with illegal drugs will be charged with a Code of Responsibility violation, and, if found responsible, could face sanctions such as probation, suspension, or expulsion.
Noise and Quiet Hours
Living on campus requires a recognition of and respect for the needs of the greater building and floor community. To this end, all on-campus students must abide by the following quiet hours:
- Weeknights (Sun-Thur. nights) - Midnight to 8 a.m.
- Weekends (Fri. and Sat. nights) - 2 a. m. to 8 a.m.
- During finals, quiet hours are in effect 24 hours a day
When quiet hours are in effect, any noise from inside a room that can be heard in the hallway or in other rooms (including loud gatherings/parties, yelling, or loud music) is likely a violation. Furthermore, noise in the hallways and common areas should be kept to a minimum. Residents have the ability to set extended quiet hours (e.g. quiet hours begin earlier in the night) on their floor, per their community agreement.
In recognition of the fact that residence halls are a part of the overall academic mission of the campus, residents have the right to study and rest peacefully in their room at any time of the day, regardless of posted quiet hours. Therefore, students should always be cognizant of the noise that they are creating in the hall. Also, students must always respond to fellow students' requests for quiet.
If a violation of a student's right to sleep or study in the room occurs, he/she should:
- Speak to the person or persons causing the disturbance and ask them to quiet the noise. If this does not work,
- Contact the RA or HC (of the floor or on duty). If this is not effective or possible,
- Contact Campus Police.
- If a student is unsatisfied with the solution, he/she should contact RLO during regular business hours.
Incidents of inappropriate noise, repeated disturbances, and/or a disrespectful response to a request for reduction in noise will be treated as serious violations of community standards.
Pets
Public health regulations mandate the restriction of pets in the residence halls. College policy prohibits rodents, cats, dogs, spiders, snakes, birds, and other pets in the residence halls. The defining characteristic of a prohibited animal is one that can survive outside of water. Students may have aquariums as long as the fish are kept in sanitary conditions.
Discovery of prohibited pets may result in a $125 fine (even in cases where pets are "just visiting" for a short time). Those found with illegal pets or other violations of the Pet Policy will be subject to the following charges: de-fleaing the residential area if necessary; deep cleaning of all carpeted and upholstered surfaces; and cleaning of the air ducts in the residential area. Violation of the Pet Policy may also result in Code of Responsibility charges and possible eviction.
The college also prohibits the feeding of any stray animals in and around the residence halls or anywhere on the college campus. Caring for these animals during the semester results in cruel abandonment when students leave for winter and summer break.
Smoking
All Davidson College buildings are Smoke-Free. Therefore, college policy prohibits smoking in all indoor residence hall and apartment spaces. Students violating this policy will incur a $50.00 fine on the first offense and possible eviction from the residence halls for repeated offenses.
Smoking is also prohibited in any outdoor areas within twenty feet of a building's door or window where smoke may enter and affect the internal environment or adversely affect the environment of those entering or exiting the facility.
Hookahs - single or multi-stemmed water pipes used for smoking tobacco - are allowed to be used on campus grounds but, in accordance with the Smoking Policy, cannot be used inside of residence halls. Furthermore, in accordance with the drug laws and policies, hookahs should not be used to smoke marijuana or other illegal drugs.
Sports in the Hallway
Because of the increased likelihood that damage will occur to the common area of the building and to students' personal belongings, students are not allowed to play any type of sports within a residential building (including lounges, hallways, and rooms). This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Football, baseball (including wiffle ball), soccer, or any other ball sport
- Riding a bicycle or skateboard
- Using rollarblades or skates
- Wrestling or play fighting
- Running recklessly
If a student intentionally, or accidentally, damages anything within the hall while playing in the hall, the student will be responsible for paying the clean up, repair, or replacement costs.
Visitation Policy & Guests
Currently enrolled students and visitors to campus must abide by the following visitation policy:
- Each student may decide what persons are allowed to be in his or her room. A student may refuse entry to the room by any person except his or her roommate(s).
- Each student must respect his or her roommate's rights to sleep and study. A student's guests should never infringe upon these or other basic rights of personal privacy.
- It is expected that guests will not become residents of a hall or apartment. Visitors who stay for an extended period of time will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
- Students may petition to their Area Coordinator and/or the Residence Life Office if their guest needs to stay beyond the 72 hr/4 nights a month limit. Examples include siblings staying over a spring break, parents visiting, etc.
Failure to abide by the time constraints can result in a warning, removal of guest, guest banned from campus or suspension of guest privileges for up to a year. Repeated violations will be referred to the College Judicial Board.
Guests Residents who host off-campus guests or other Davidson students in the room must take responsibility for damages or other inappropriate behavior of those guests. All visitors to the campus must abide by Davidson's rules and regulations. Students must inform their guests of all pertinent rules. RLO does not provide extra beds, mattresses, linen, or bedding for guests in the residence halls.
At no time are students and/or guests allowed to sleep in residence hall common areas or lounges. These spaces are meant for studying or socializing, and are not meant for students or guests to use for sleeping overnight or for extended periods.
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