Resident Hall Handbook

PROCEDURES & SERVICES

ABANDONED PERSONAL PROPERTY Students are responsible for the removal of all personal belongings when they check-out of their room. University Housing reserves the right, without assuming any liability, to dispose of all personal property considered to be abandoned; including unclaimed deliveries addressed to a particular student. Students have 30 days to claim their non-perishable abandoned property. Abandoned property will be boxed up and stored as needed. The student who has abandoned the property will be notified via their Stout e-mail account and via letter to their home address of the date by which their items will be disposed of accordingly. Perishable abandoned property will be disposed of without notice after being left unclaimed for 24 hours. BED BUGS University Housing hires a team of professionals to do a complete search of all residence hall rooms every year to verify that we have no bed bugs in our buildings. If you suspect that you or someone you know has brought bed bugs into the residence halls, please contact your RA or Residence Life Coordinator immediately and submit a Maintenance Request through the Housing Gateway. BUILDING ACCESS & SECURITY The residence halls are closed to the public 24-hours a day, except during move-in and move out periods when the buildings may be unlocked during the day to ease the process. All other times, residents of the hall will need to use their Stout Blue Card to access their building. Students should not let unknown people in the door behind them and should always meet guests at exterior doors to escort them in the building.

Do not prop open any outside doors; doing so endangers the security of all residents. If you sus pect there is an unauthorized or suspicious person in the hall, contact University Police. Residents are also encouraged to lock room doors and carry rent er’s insurance. While the University is not responsi ble for personal possessions that are lost, stolen or damaged, we will investigate any cases of theft.

To report any unauthorized or suspicious person or theft, contact University Police, (715) 232-2222.

CEREMONIAL SMUDGING & RELIGIOUS BURNING University Housing recognizes the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978, and therefore acknowledges that smudging and the non recreational use of ceremonial tobacco and other medicines are a part of the traditions, celebrations, well-being, and spiritual practices for many Indigenous peoples. The use of these medicines in the residence halls is the right of Indigenous peoples, including but not limited to citizens of recognized and unrecognized sovereign tribal communities, First Nations peoples, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Ceremonial smudging involves the burning of one or more sacred medicines, which may include tobacco, cedar, sage, sweetgrass and other sacred medicines. Smudging is a ceremony for purifying or cleansing the soul of negative thoughts of a person or place. Prayers, spoken aloud or in silence, are part of the ceremony. The smoke from the burning and smoldering of these sacred medicines is considered a purifying agent for the mind, body, and spirit. Students participating in these ceremo nies have the right to a peaceful session and may

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