next »

[prytania3]

Frankly, given the level of aggression in the student's first outburst, and the placating "solution" of the dean, I would cancel class on Monday, and request another meeting with the dean and (this is the important part), the university's legal council.

No university wants to be on the butt end of a nutbar's violent rampage.

Best idea I've heard.

[grasshopper]

Frankly, given the level of aggression in the student's first outburst, and the placating "solution" of the dean, I would cancel class on Monday, and request another meeting with the dean and (this is the important part), the university's legal council.

No university wants to be on the butt end of a nutbar's violent rampage.

Best idea I've heard.

Well, see, the way I figure it is that documenting stuff is really important to note rising aggression. But the aggression has already risen. The time for documenting was during the period that Untitled didn't realize that there was rising aggression. That time is past. As Alleyoxenfree said, you can just tell the class that they're having an "independent research day." That's all.

Having campus police on speed dial will only help apprehend the student after the fact. Even if it only takes them five minutes to get to the classroom, that's five minutes too long. How long do you think it'll take for the student to blow as soon as you pick up the cell phone?

I wouldn't want to be in a classroom with him, period. Just in case. And I would refuse. (Of course, I've never worked at an institution that would fire an instructor for this, either, so maybe it's easier for me to say that).

If the university's lawyers are present at a future meeting, they can tell the dean exactly why it's a bad idea to let the student back into the classroom. Moreover, you can be certain that, at that point, someone above the dean is going to hear about it, and quickly. This won't be swept under the rug.

That kid has to be taken off campus. End of story.

[mended_drum]

Is your dean an academic dean?  Because I would have turned to the Dean of Students over something like this.  If you have such a person on campus, I'd make contact with him or her and express your concerns.

[kedves]

Is your dean an academic dean?  Because I would have turned to the Dean of Students over something like this.  If you have such a person on campus, I'd make contact with him or her and express your concerns.

I agree with that.  Do it now.  You need to contact both the police and the dean of students ASAP, to inform them of the situation, get help, and document what is happening.  If you do it by phone or in person, follow up with an email.  If your chair is out of the loop, bring him or her into it right away.

Stick to a script in which you describe what happened and emphasize "threatening" and "aggressive" behavior (not "irrational" which applies to many people who are neither of those things), "potentially dangerous situation," "concerns for my safety and the safety of my students," "maintaining safety in the classroom," "students in the class have expressed fear about being in the room with the student."  With the dean, "I have been told that he will be allowed in the class for our next meeting, but I need to know that if the student acts in a threatening or aggressive manner one more time, you will back me up on barring him from the classroom.  I can work with him online unless the behavior continues in that context," and "I am very concerned about this student's potential for harm to others and maintaining a classroom that is not dominated by other students' fear of him."  You can add, "I should alert you that there is a possibility that people in the university may get calls about this student.  Students are genuinely afraid of him, and they talk to their friends, parents, and so on."

I don't think these things are not taken seriously by the academic side of the university because administrators are uncaring or sexist.  I think it's because the value of protecting the community conflicts so strongly with the value of treating community members as free actors and with the belief that we are all stable, at least minimally civilized actors.  Faculty administrators such as chairs and academic deans are more likely to maintain those beliefs in the face of contrary facts than are administrators who deal more frequently with students, including problem students.  The post-Virginia Tech protocols that universities have developed are less likely to be known and followed by people who deal mainly with faculty.  That's my impression, anyway.

Good luck with this.  I'm so sorry that you have to deal with it. 

[post_functional]

Your dean's non-assistance is appalling, and should perhaps be reported up the line as well.

This is what the Retention Uberalis mentality gets us.

[post_functional]

And a big old apology for not previewing my post.....running on of the fingers.

Are you kidding?  I HOF'd it.

Chime to everyone suggesting that OP wave the Virginia Tech flag high.  It's not at all inappropriate.  It's a preventative measure.  And it's the only good that came out of the Virginia Tech incident--- having it as an example to point to.

[wharf_rat]

Wow.  I am sorry this is happening.  

I work in a city school.  My first year I had a threatening and abusive student.  I was scared.  Period. The behavior occurred in my classroom and it started following me to my office and lab.  One day, the student would not leave when I demanded.  Eventually, the student was removed by male faculty because the attacking was loud and hostile.  

I went to everyone, but the student had more rights than me.  (*Note that this student had treated several other faculty members the same)

Long story short:  
They put security outside my classroom for the rest of the semester.  The student could not meet with me alone.  Any meeting had to be with Dean of Students and another faculty member.

The class was horrible because everyone was uncomfortable....Every single evaluation said something like:
"X made this class frightening or I could not learn under the stressful conditions, or there was so much tension in the class, that I was afraid something was going to happen or why was X allowed to stay or Dr. Y did the best she could, but X ruined it all.  I learned less than I could have."


This is 100% inappropriate.  You need to cancel your class and see the dean.  If the dean does not listen, go to the provost.  In todays times, we can not ignore these behaviors.   DEMAND security outside your class for the rest of the semester.  DEMAND that he not be allowed access to your office unless another faculty is there.  DEMAND that if this happens again, he is IMMEDIATELY removed.

**Use these words:  threats, other students frightened, grievance (which you will file), student was irrational, student was aggressive, student was dangerous , class safety at risk.


Also, for your personal safety:
Is your phone number unlisted?  
If you leave campus late, call the escort.  Do not walk alone.  Period.
Get some mace and carry your cell phone

Usually these student "things" disappear after the semester is over.  But in the meantime, you need to keep yourself and your class safe and continue to create an atmosphere for learning.  
That can not be done with students like this, but universities continue to allow it, because they = $$.

Good luck.

[tolerantly]

Frankly, given the level of aggression in the student's first outburst, and the placating "solution" of the dean, I would cancel class on Monday, and request another meeting with the dean and (this is the important part), the university's legal council.

No university wants to be on the butt end of a nutbar's violent rampage.

Best idea I've heard.

I agree. Whatever they're paying you, it's not enough to put yourself in reach of Mr. Nutjob.

If you're going to fight about this, please demonstrate immediately that you're willing to work outside of channels to protect yourself. Have your own lawyer or be prepared to hire one, and if state law allows, record everything, openly, not just for this circumstance but to put them on notice that you'll make retaliation difficult. University counsel is there to protect the university, not you. It looks to me like this is really just a question of who scares them more, you or the student.

I find that displaying willingness to fight often goes a long way.

[rowan1]

I had a student who was, as I later found out, going through the onset of schizophrenia.  His behavior was disconcerting and at times openly threatening and at other times just made me and members of the class very uncomfortable.  I was also an adjunct at the time.

One day after I had given him a review of his last performance he went ballistic, started screaming at me and at the other class members. I dismissed class.  Three of the other male students stayed while I locked up the theatre and walked me to my car.  As soon as I got home I called my chair who called the dean who said that we were over reacting.  That if there were "further" problems in the classroom he would look into it.  (this was before VT so I wonder how that response would be different.)

I contacted campus security and the counseling center next.  The next class there was a uniformed officer and a member of the counseling center staff sitting outside the classroom.  They were there for the next two weeks.  The student had "disappeared".

Then 2 weeks before the end of the term he showed back up, he had gone through some kind of disassociative experience and had ended up in Seattle for a month, he was not real clear on where he had been or what he had been doing but he didn't seem to have any sense that he had missed so much class.  While I was explaining to him that he could not expect to be able to pass the class at that point one of the students went to the office and had the secretary call the campus officer and the counseling center.  They came  and got him.


I don't think I have ever been so thoroughly freaked out.  The dean was a waste of space, the security and counseling center people were heroes.

I guess the main reason for sharing this is that to remind you there are additional resources besides the deans office and to wish you good luck.

[spork]

I'll repeat some of what others have said:

You need to cease the telephone calls and confine your communication with deans, your chair, campus police, etc. to email so that there is a paper trail.  Cc your chair, deans, and head of campus police so they all know that everyone else knows that they've been informed.

State that class will not be held on Monday unless a campus police officer is present or the student is removed from the class.

You need to inform other students in class that they should report their observations of this student's behavior in writing (i.e., email) to university authorities (provide relevant email addresses) and to state that they find this behavior to be threatening, disruptive, etc.  Try not to put words in students' mouths/fingers, but remind them that they are paying good money for a safe, productive learning environment.

[post_functional]

One other thing, regarding the "I'm just a li'l ol' adjunct" syndrome:

I'm not a dean.  And I'm not in a position to hire anyone.

But if I were a dean, I'd be impressed by someone taking control of his or her classroom, taking the right steps to ensure the safety of the students in the classroom, doing what it takes to not let a bully disrupt the learning, and doing the right thing even if there were a professional risk involved, and I'd want to hire that person longer term.  But that's just me, and I'm a crazy person.

The point being--- whoever is in a position to hire you long-term may think of you as a boat-rocker and complainer.  But there's just as much chance that he or she may think of you as someone who stands up for what's important and right.

[palla]

Wow, I am so sorry.  I haven't read all the posts, but I skimmed them.  There are some good ideas.  I would not show up for class without campus security, and I would docment everything.  I would go so far as to have every student in the class write his/her recollection of what happened and how each student feels.  I would present that information to the dean and demand that the dean take action.  There is no excuse for the dean to avoid the situation.  I think that is the worst part of the entire story.

[mathspice]

Chime, chime, chime. When are they going to learn? They being administration. I had a few scary incidents at my former cc and it always concluded with the problem was me. I'm so glad to be out of there.

I agree with those who recommended canceling class. Also document, document document.

Protect yourself. PLEASE do not let this student back into class. Please let us know what happens.

[post_functional]

When I was interviewing for an Urban Nightmare CC, and I was continually asked at various stages of the interview process how I would handle classroom discipline, I didn't realize the answer they actually were looking for was "I'm a big, burly male and I will intimidate the disruptors with my imposing physical presence with the subtle but implied threat of bodily saction."

Which I would hate to be expected to put into practice, because I'm a wus.

Oh, and not bulletproof.

[terpsichore]

I don't think I have ever been so thoroughly freaked out.  The dean was a waste of space, the security and counseling center people were heroes.

I guess the main reason for sharing this is that to remind you there are additional resources besides the deans office and to wish you good luck.

This is an important point. Your dean apparently does not know what to do in this situation.  This is why it's important to talk to the police, the dean of students, your chair, and others, since the dean isn't backing you up.

Use the resources available to you. I especially echo the suggestion to file a police report.

And please give us an update if you can.