Handling Disruptive and Potentially Violent Students

1. Handling Disruptive and Potentially Violent Students Where are Colleges and Universities Going? Ronald K. Chapman, Ph.D.

2. Campus Violence • The events of April 16, 2007: a tragic reminder of the vulnerability of college campuses • Virginia Tech • Northern Illinois • Louisiana State University • University of North Carolina • University of Louisville • Where Next?

3. Campus Violence • Shattered the image of the university “campus” • Created fear and suspicion among students and faculty • Created significant concern over mental health issues and disabilities

4. Campus Violence • Has been tremendously costly to the institutions involved • Has set in motion an avalanche of new procedures on campuses and legislation in the government

5. What do we know • 1995-2002 college students ( age 18-24) experienced violence at a lower rate than general population - males twice as likely to be involved - 58% committed by strangers - 93% of incidents occurred off campus - 72% occurred at night - weapons used in less than 1/3 of incidents

6. What we know • Only 250 murders committed on campuses in the last 80 years • Suicide is less likely to occur on campus than with age peers of early adults (35-50% less likely depending on study) • Still the second leading cause of death among college students

7. Prediction of Violence • Among the most difficult predictions to make • No clear indices • Best predictors • History of violence • History of substance abuse • More than 50% of crimes are committed “under the influence” • Alcohol abuse predicts equally well for men and women

8. Prediction of Violence • Evidence of severe mental illness and an unwillingness to take medication may be a third predictor • Depression and poor future outlook seen as factors • However, those who are mentally ill are responsible for no more than 5% of the violent episodes in the US

9. What Colleges are DoingStandards of Practice • Establishment of “Student of Concern” committees • Implementation of faculty, staff and student early warning strategies • Increased police presence on campus • Increased training and arming of university police forces

10. What Colleges are Doing • Review of campus buildings, practices and curfews • Establishment and review of campus evacuation plans • Review of FERPA and release of information standards

11. What are Colleges Doing • Upgrading campus communication systems • Adding violence scenarios to emergency preparedness plans

12. Areas of Concern • Potential eroding of privacy rights • Unfortunate stigmatizing of individuals with mental health issues • Over-reaction to events • Profiling