The St. John’s College Office of Public Safety exists to provide a safe and secure community in which the college may carry out its educational mission. Our mission is to protect the campus, serve the campus community, and preserve the good order of the college.

Students and their parents are understandably concerned about the issue of safety on college campuses. We share their concern and understand our responsibility to contribute to a protected campus environment. Although St. John’s has experienced a lower incidence of crime than surrounding areas, our community is not immune to crime. The number of incidents occurring on the campus can be reduced if all members of the community practice everyday precautions that will help to make a safe community.

Questions or concerns about Public Safety and or its operations should be addressed to Michael Boston, director of public safety. The Public Safety Office is located in Pinkney Hall. An officer can always be reached from campus phones at ext. 2000, from off-campus phones at 443-336-2348.

General Safety Tips

Simple precautions can reduce the likelihood that you will become the victim of a crime.

• 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.
• Report criminal activities or emergency situations: For police, fire or medical emergencies, you may contact Public Safety by calling 2000 or 443-336-2348. 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 immediately.
• 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.
• 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 by calling ext. 2000 or 443-336-2348
• Keep your room door locked at all times. 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 greatly increase chances that you or someone else in your dorm may be victimized. Do not open doors to someone you do not know.
• 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.
• Report obscene, annoying or harassing phone calls or email messages immediately. Please save the offending messages, if possible.
• 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 Facilities.
• Identify your valuables using OPERATION ID. Students may use an engraver, available through Public Safety, to mark and identify valuable personal articles as a precaution of theft.
• Park your car in well-lit area and keep it locked. Lock all valuables in your trunk.
• 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. Public Safety strongly recommends a U-style lock.
• Be aware of crimes at or around St. John’s College. Additional information on campus crime is available from the Office of Public Safety.

Bystander Intervention

• 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 College employee. You can also call Public Safety.
• 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. Refuse to leave a friend with a person who might be trying to take advantage of them.
• 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.
• Speak up when you see someone trying to take advantage of a person you believe to be intoxicated (or if you hear someone discuss plans to take advantage of another person).
• Call Public Safety if you don’t feel comfortable intervening in a situation, for instance, if a friend is being yelled at or threatened.
• Don’t tolerate harassing or discriminatory language. If you don’t feel comfortable asking the person to stop, contact Public Safety for assistance.
• Report incidents involving friends where you think sexual assault or harassment might have occurred.

• When you go out, 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.
• 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!
• You have the right to say “no” to any undesired sexual contact. State your limits clearly and firmly.
• 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.
• If you’re going to drink, be aware that alcohol and drugs may interfere with a person’s ability to make clear decisions and communicate effectively. Substances impact each person differently; know your limits and do not exceed them.
• Make sure your friends “have your back,” especially when you’re drinking.