Threatening and Violent Behavior

If you are faced with threatening or violent behavior:

1. Everyone is asked to assist in making each campus a safe place by being alert to suspicious situations and promptly reporting them.
2. If you are a victim or witness to any on-campus offense, AVOID RISKS and contact Public Safety immediately.
3. Notify Public Safety at ext. 7777.  Report the incident, including the following:
   • Nature of the incident
   • Location of the incident
   • Description of the person(s) involved
   • Description of the property involved

Please stay on the telephone until Public Safety advises you to hang up.

• If you observe a criminal act or a suspicious person on campus, immediately report the incident to Public Safety.
• Assist the officers when they arrive by supplying them with all available information and ask others to cooperate.
• Should gunfire or discharged explosives occur on campus, you should take cover immediately, using all available concealment. After the disturbance, seek emergency first aid if necessary.

What to do if taken hostage:

1. Remain calm and be patient. Time is on your side. Avoid drastic action.
2. The initial 45 minutes are the most dangerous. Follow instructions, be alert and stay alive. The captor is emotionally unbalanced. Don’t make mistakes that could hazard your well-being.
3. Don’t speak unless spoken to and only when necessary. Don’t talk down to the captor, who may be in agitated state. Avoid appearing hostile. Maintain eye contact with the captor at all times if possible, but do not stare. Treat the captor like royalty.
4. Try to rest. Avoid speculating. Comply with instructions the best you can. Avoid arguments. Expect the unexpected. Displaying a certain amount of fear can possibly work to your advantage. Be observant. When you are released, or when you escape, the personal safety of others may depend on what you remember about the situation. Be prepared to answer the police on the phone. Be patient, wait. Attempt to establish rapport with the captor. If medications, first aid or restroom privileges are needed by anyone, say so. The captors in all probability do not want to harm persons held by them. Such direct action further implicates the captor to additional offenses.

Public Safety will make reasonable efforts to protect life and property at Rider University, including, when warranted, requesting assistance from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

Workplace Violence

Threats, threatening behavior, acts of violence against Rider University faculty, staff, administrators, students, and/or visitors within the Rider community, or willful damage to property, will not be tolerated. Violations of this policy may lead to disciplinary actions up to and including suspension, dismissal, arrest and prosecution.

Harassment

All students, faculty, staff and administrators at the University have the right to expect a safe work environment. Harassment is any action that may reasonably be expected to threaten, coerce or intimidate an individual or a class of individuals. Where the alleged harassment involves a potential violation of federal or state anti-discrimination laws, the University’s affirmative action officer may be called upon to investigate the allegations, using procedures approximating those outlined in the University’s “Sexual Harassment Policy”, which is published in The Source and the Academic Policy Manual, both of which are available on the Rider website. However, nothing contained in this policy shall be construed either to limit the legitimate exercise of the right of free speech or to infringe upon the academic freedom of any member of the University community.  Contact the Associate Vice President for Human Resources, (609)-895-5683 or ext. 5683.