• Remember not to panic.
• Listen for pertinent messages.
• Follow directions from Campus Police and CRT workers.
• Help the Crisis Plan work by relying on information
provided to you and watching out for each other and our students.

SO THAT’S WHO YOU ARE!
President Ender requests that all college employees wear their nametags. It will be helpful, should any kind of emergency arise to know who is an employee and it will also be helpful when passing along information to know the name of the person to whom you are talking. No metal detectors, no searches, just name tags - just do it.

If you don’t have one, stop by the Student Activities Office, 1st floor, SCC.

WHAT IF YOU ARE CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY?
As we all become increasingly aware of the potential for additional members of the military, National Guard and military reserve to be called to active duty, Grand Rapids Community College wants to provide resources to assist our employees as well as members of our extended families.

There are various federal laws that protect the rights of our reservists. Employees will be given every consideration granted under federal law and college policy. Please refer to language in either the Meet and Confer Handbook or collective bargaining agreement appropriate to your position.

If any employee of Grand Rapids Community College is called to active duty, immediate notice must be provided to your supervisor and the Human Resource Department. Employees with questions should contact any Human Resource Generalist.

For more information, or if you have a family member engaged in the National Guard or military reserve, visit www.esgr.org for additional information (the official website of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve). If you have a student at GRCC who needs information regarding grading, withdrawal or refund policies, contact Jan Chesla or Howard Shanken.

Grand Rapids Community College supports our students, our employees, and our extended family members in military service and in the military reserve.

WHEN IS PATRIOTISM A VIOLATION OF OUR VALUES?
Grand Rapids Community College promotes and values diversity through our values and “ends.” Patriotism is an important part of who we are as Americans. When patriotism is reduced to “bashing” any particular race or religion while here on campus, it undermines the message and violates the values and policies of Grand Rapids Community College. During the past 15 months, in response to actions and attitudes resulting from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has turned its attention toward national origin discrimination, also referred to as “backlash discrimination”. Guidelines against anti-Arab or anti-Muslim comments have been published to remind employers about the prohibition against discrimination based on any protected category such as national origin or religion, and to include guidance for employees – to read these, go to www.eeoc.gov .

As our minds and attentions focus on world events, and the potential for a declaration of war looms, we must be especially aware of comments, e-mails and other forms of public communications that negatively target any population or religion. Anti-religious slogans, actions or words demonstrating bias or discrimination against any group based on national origin, including printed t-shirts or pins can all be forms of bashing that are both wrong and a potential violation of an individual’s civil rights. Be sensitive to what you read in your e-mail and what you send to others – being patriotic means being supportive of the United State of America, but not at the expense of offending others.

Grand Rapids Community College employees are obligated to treat all students, employees and visitors to campus with respect regardless of gender, race, color, national origin, religion, height, weight, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam Era veteran. This is an obligation of every student and employee, and a protection offered to all of us under the federal and state Civil Rights regulations. A copy of the GRCC policy is available either by contacting the Human Resource Department or at www.grcc.edu .

Let’s show our patriotism in positive, constructive ways. Wear your red, white and blue, sport your flag pins and signs, and fly the flag of freedom. When you see our men and women in the military and reserves, thank them for their service to our country. Fellow employees have sons, daughters, and other family members in the military and some overseas at this very moment – show your support for our extended GRCC family and for their safe return home.

SAFETY IN PARKING RAMPS
Point out that in both the Bostwick and Lyon Street parking ramps, there are call boxes that ring directly into our office. They are identified by a blue light that will flash when the button is hit. The caller will talk directly to the police dispatcher. There is a call box on all 6 levels of the Bostwick ramp in three different locations. One is by the stairwell that goes up to the cafeteria at the Student Center the other two sets are by the stairwells on the Ransom and the Bostwick Street sides. The Lyon Street ramp has the same type of emergency call boxes. They also are located on all 7 levels by the stairwells which are located near the north and south ends of the parking ramp. It would be helpful for the student to locate these call boxes in advance, if they are new to the college.