Residence Life Handbook

Alcohol and Drugs

Manhattan School of Music requires the observance of all New York State and Federal laws and regulations pertaining to drugs and alcoholic beverages. Residents of Andersen Hall are subject to the Manhattan School of Music Drug and Alcohol Policy outlined in the Student Handbook.

Drugs

Students who are prescribed medications are the only individuals permitted to use them, as prescribed, and are responsible for monitoring and securing their own medications. The use of synthetic substances or other items ingested for intoxication effect is also prohibited. Providing illicit drugs, prescription medication, or other intoxicant to another, whether sharing, selling or trading, constitutes distribution, is unlawful and subject to disciplinary action, with sanctions up to or including expulsion.

Alcohol & Marijuana

Students are only allowed to purchase, possess, consume and serve alcoholic beverages in accordance with New York State laws (21 years of age or older).  Students are only allowed to purchase, possess, and consume marijuana in accordance with the New York State law (must be 21 years of age of older and possess no more than 3 ounces of marijuana or marijuana products.)

Severe intoxication is a violation of residence hall policy, regardless of age.

Students under age 21 who are found to be within either a residence hall room or else a common area within the residence hall in which alcohol or marijuana is present or being consumed will be in violation of MSM policy. Alcohol, marijuana, marijuana paraphernalia (bongs, pipes, rolling papers), and/or alcoholic beverage containers (even when empty) may not be kept or consumed in any room whose residents are under the age of 21.

Residents age 21 or older may possess and consume alcohol and marijuana within residence hall in accordance with the following:

• Students of legal age who bring alcohol or marijuana into a residence hall are responsible for its legal use. This includes taking reasonable precautions to prevent the possession or consumption of alcohol or marijuana by underage students and guests.
• Alcohol and edible marijuana products may be consumed only within assigned rooms. Open containers of alcohol are prohibited in common spaces such as hallways and lounges, in public areas such as the lobby or in outdoor areas.
• In accordance with our smoking policy, marijuana may not be smoked inside any Manhattan School of Music building.
• Students, regardless of age, may not have alcohol or marijuana delivered to the building or an MSM mailing address.
• Common source beverage containers (e.g. kegs) and/or excessive amounts of alcohol are not permitted in the residence hall. Devices or mechanisms that facilitate rapid consumption (beer bongs, vaporizers, etc.) are also prohibited. If found these items will be confiscated and not returned to the student.
• Alcohol and marijuana may not be sold or distributed in the residence hall. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to: cash bars; events to which admission tickets are sold or fees are charged; and parties at which alcoholic beverages or marijuana is served and for which contribution or donations to offset the costs of the party are sought.
• Students found to be severely intoxicated in the residence hall or who receive emergency medical attention (e.g., EMT or FDNY) for excessive intoxication may be subject to a mandatory medical or psychological assessment as well as other appropriate follow-up.
• Moderate to high doses of alcohol and marijuana may cause impairments in higher mental functions, severely altering a person’s ability to learn and remember information. Very high doses of alcohol, which vary greatly for different people, can cause respiratory depression and death. If combined with other depressants of the central nervous system, much lower doses of alcohol will produce the effects just described. All members of the community are encouraged to seek assistance for any member of the community who demonstrates symptoms of excessive substance use. Contact an RA, Residential Life staff, or Security for assistance.

Cleanliness, Garbage Disposal, and Recycling

All residents are required to maintain acceptable standards of personal hygiene, self-care, and room cleanliness to a level that does not interfere with the general comfort, safety, security, health, or welfare of any member of the residence hall community. Students are to act responsibly and not interfere with the comfort or safety of their roommate(s) or other residence hall students.

This includes having a fitted sheet on their mattress and employing basic safety practices when cooking or preparing food in a residential space. Residents are not permitted to leave cooking food unattended.

Residents are responsible for removing trash from their room to the trash room on a regular basis. Residents are expected to separate trash into proper recycling containers and responsibly follow the posted directions for proper use of the trash compactor. A trash room with compactor and recycling areas are located on each floor.

Residents are required to possess their room key when leaving their residential space.

Code of Conduct

All students are expected to abide by the Manhattan School of Music Student Code of Conduct, as outlined in the Student Handbook.

Community Safety Policies

For the safety of individuals and all members of the community, a number of safety policies need to be observed in School housing. Each member of the community is encouraged to hold others accountable for the community safety policies. The following actions are prohibited in School housing:

Bicycles

Bicycles may be stored in the specially designated area on the Alan M. and Joan Taub Ades Terrace. Bicycles may not be stored or parked in resident rooms, hallways, stairwells, or other public areas of the residence hall The fire code dictates that all entrances, exits, corridors, and stairwells must be free and clear at all times. All bicycles must be removed at the end of the academic year.

Candles, Incense, and Open Flames

The most frequent cause of residence hall fires is candles and/or other open flames. Candles (including decorative & religious candles or candles with the wick removed) are prohibited in the residence hall. Incense, oil lamps, alcohol lamps, lighter fluid, and open flame burners are also prohibited in the residence hall. The use of candles and/or incense for religious observances is not permitted in student rooms. Students wishing to burn candles for religious observance may only do so in monitored public areas with the prior permission of Residence Life.

Disruptive Behavior

Students who engage in general disorderliness, malicious mischief, and/or behavior which is deemed detrimental to the community or interferes with the rights of others in their community are subject to disciplinary actions, reassignment, or possible termination of the residence hall agreement. Physical, psychological or verbal harassment, intimidation or harming of students, guests, staff, tenants, or any person will not be tolerated.

Electrical Equipment and Appliances

All permissible electrical equipment and appliances must be UL approved and in good working order. The College recommends that appliances with an automatic on/off feature be used. Appliances used for the purpose of cooking foods must have an automatic shut off.

Items that are prohibited in the residence hall include appliances that have exposed heating elements (e.g. toaster ovens, toasters, hot plates,) charcoal, gas, or electric grills, deep fryers, space heaters, halogen lamps, lava lamps, ultraviolet/infrared lamps/lightbulbs, window and/or portable air conditioners, window fans, extension cords, and/or multi- receptacle outlet adapters. Students may only use UL listed power strips with a surge protector.

All residence hall rooms are provided with a micro-fridge unit in their room (which contains a microwave and refrigerator.) No additional microwave or refrigerator units are allowed in the residence hall.

Facility Tampering

Tampering with the physical facilities of the residence hall is strictly prohibited. This includes but is not limited to the propping open of any doors, tampering with fire safety equipment (like smoke detectors or sprinklers,) tampering with elevator buttons or equipment, changing or adding locks to doors, windows, or furniture. It also includes climbing out of or into windows, onto ledges, balconies, fire escapes, or onto walls of buildings.

Residents are responsible for any noise or objects coming from their windows. Playing music out of windows and dropping or throwing objects out of windows is prohibited.

Hall Sports

Throwing or tossing objects in hallways, In-line skating, skateboard, or bike/scooter riding in the building, including the lobby are all prohibited activities.

Occupancy Limits

In order to ensure safety in our residence hall, there is a maximum occupancy allotted per residential room. Single rooms may have up to 6 people (including the resident.)  Double and triple rooms may have up to 8 people (including the residents.)

If only one student resides in a double room, the room occupancy is 6 people (including the resident.)

Pets

Pets, including, but not limited to, cats, dogs, hamsters, snakes, iguanas, and turtles, are not allowed in School housing. Fish are permitted in a 3-gallon-or-less tank. Any requests for service or emotional support animals must be made through MSM Disability Services.

Good Samaritan Policy

The Manhattan School of Music Good Samaritan policy is designed to protect the health and lives of students who over-consume alcohol/drugs to the point of needing medical help by assuring them that they will not be subject to disciplinary actions for obtaining that help.

It is imperative that someone call for medical assistance when an individual(s) experiences severe intoxication or a serious injury after consuming alcohol/drugs. People may be reluctant to seek help in such alcohol/drug-related emergencies because of potential judicial consequences for themselves, the person in need of assistance, or the organization hosting the event where the situation occurs. Since these emergencies are potentially life threatening, Manhattan School of Music seeks to reduce barriers to seeking assistance.

Posting Procedures for Residence Life

Posters should be brought to Office of Residence Life or RAs on duty to get it approved and stamped.

The person providing the posters is responsible for placing his/her approved posting on the bulletin boards in the residence hall and taking them down at the appropriate time. Designated boards are located near the elevator banks. Postings and staples should never be placed on the walls.

Quiet Hours & Courtesy Hours

Quiet hours begin at 10:30pm* and end at 9am Sundays through Thursdays and at 1am on Fridays and Saturdays and end at 9am. During Quiet Hours noise should not be heard outside any room or between rooms during quiet hours. Additional quiet hour guidelines for each floor may be discussed in floor meetings.

Courtesy hours are always in effect, meaning that all students must show consideration for one another. Total silence is not to be expected in the community setting of Manhattan School of Music, but there should be an atmosphere where everyone is respectful of residents’ needs to sleep and study. All students should honor any reasonable request by any resident or staff member when asked that stereos, musical instruments, etc., be discontinued or satisfactorily toned down. Reasonable complaints from other tenants and off-campus neighbors who go to local authorities can bring about a more serious censure for those involved. After 10:00 pm, a city ordinance requires that loud disturbances of any type be brought to a close.

*Effective 05.17.24 quiet hours will begin at 10:00pm in accordance with the NYC ordinance.

Weapons

Weapons of any kind are not permitted in the residence hall. This includes possessing or introducing dangerous weapons to campus, including but not limited to switchblades, knives with blade exceeding three inches, straight razors, pistols, guns, mace, pepper spray, martial arts weapons, live ammunition, or paintball/airsoft guns. Fireworks are considered explosive devices and are also not permitted on campus.