It’s important to use safe practices when you are living in the dorms here at Marshall. Your dorm room is your “home-away-from-home”, so you should feel safe there just as you would at your house. Sadly crime still occurs in the dorms, especially theft and vandalism. Here are some helpful hints to help you reduce the chances of becoming the “victim of crime.”

  • Do not prop open any exterior locked residence hall door. Even though propping the doors makes it easier for you to get back into the residence halls, you also have made it easier for the unauthorized person to enter the building. For the safety of you and others in the residence halls, do not prop open any exterior doors because you don’t know whom you may be letting in!
  • Lock your door when you leave and take your keys with you, no matter how long you will be gone-even when you go to the bathroom. It only takes a few seconds to be “ripped off”.
  • Lock your door when you and/or your roommate are sleeping.
  • Do not leave notes on your door stating that no one is in or when you will return. It’s an open invitation for theft.
  • Keep wallets, purses, checkbooks, and jewelry out of sight and locked up if possible. Do not keep large sums of money on hand and routinely check your checkbook to see if any checks are missing.
  • Keep a record of all your valuable items, noting description, serial number and approximate value of the items. In some cases you should consider taking pictures of them. These records should be kept in a secure location.
  • Check with your parents’ insurance company to see if your property is covered under their homeowners policy while you’re living at school.
  • Do not loan your room key to anyone. Do not attach your keys to your university ID. It’s another invitation for theft.
  • Do not allow strangers into your room.
  • Do not open your door unless you know who is on the other side, especially at night.
  • Do not allow door-to-door salespeople to enter the residence hall or your room. Marshall University policy prohibits soliciting in any building without prior written approval from the University.
  • Report any suspicious person or activity to the University Police, 304-696-4357.