2012 URMIA - Threats from Campus Violence and Student Special Events: Awareness, Prevention, and Response

UNIVERSITY RISK MANAGEMENT AND INSURANCE ASSOCIATION2012 Western Regional Conference Boise, ID

Leta Finch, MPA, DRMAon Risk Solutions

Nakeschi WatkinsYeshiva University

Gary J. Margolis, Ed.D.Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC

Threats from Campus Violence and Student Special Events : Awareness, Prevention, and Response


AGENDA

• Introductions• A Conversation…• Response is Important/Prevention is Better

• Fights, Stabbings and Shootings• The Research• 5 Steps• Recommendations

© Margolis Healy & Associates, LLC


Leta Finch, MPA, DRMAon Risk Solutions



The U.S. Gun Culture


State Laws and Campus Gun Policies•Carry•Conceal Carry•Ban

No resolution in sight

Threats from Campus Violence: Awareness, Prevention, and Response


Response is ImportantPrevention is Better


• OSHAThe Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) was passed to prevent workers from being killed or seriously harmed at work. The law requires employers to provide their employees with working conditions that are free of known dangers.

• 29 states have explicit workplace violence laws

Preventing Campus ViolenceThis law is settled


The following list in not to be construed as complete or is it meant to imply that by following any or

all of the suggested steps, a campus can prevent an act of violence.

1. Implement pre-employment screening and background checks.

2.Adopt a “Zero Tolerance” policy toward threats of violence applicable to everyone on campus. This means that no threat of violence or violent behavior will be ignored. The policy needs clear response and communications procedures.

3. Provide assistance programs for employees who need help in managing stress and transition assistance to employees leaving the university’s employment.

4. Survey staff, faculty, and students and ask them where they believe the campus and individuals are the most vulnerable.

5. Train staff, faculty, and students about warning signs and violence prevention.

To Help Prevent Campus Violence


6. Train staff and faculty on how to minimize emotions when threatening situations arise in the workplace and classroom.

7. Establish a formal reporting system for complaints of threats and threatening situations. Take immediate action to resolve any reported situations.

8. Create an Incident Response Team and notification system to respond to threatening or escalating situations before they turn into a crisis.

9. Never meet with a threatening staff, faculty member or student alone.

10. Always maintain the usability of means of egress

To Help Prevent Campus Violence


• U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA Materials addressing workplace violencehttp://www.osha.gov/SLTC/workplaceviolence/index.html • Department of Labor: OSHAViolence in The Workplace: State Plan Standards & Resources http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/osp/work_violence.html • The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) Extensive list of warning signshttp://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/violence_warning_signs.html • Wayne State University “What Is Disruptive, Threatening, Or Violent Behavior” www.clas.wayne.edu/multimedia/usercontent/File/Deans%20Office/disruptive_behavior.pdf • San Diego State University “Violence-Free Workplace Policy” http://bfa.sdsu.edu/ps/pdf/Policies/ViolenceFreePolicy.pdf

Resources


Nakeschi WatkinsYeshiva University



• Wilf Campus• Beren Campus• Brookdale Center • Resnick Campus • Girls and Boys High School• Israel Campus

Yeshiva University


• Event 1

Radio Taping

• Event 2

Chanukah Concert

Yeshiva Student Special Event


Orientation for Student Life• Event Planning Checklist• Review of all events weekly

Campus EventsSecurityFacilitiesRisk Management

Event Planning


Gary J. Margolis, Ed.D.Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC



TWEET TWEET

@margolishealy

#urmiawrc2012



• Several high profile violent incidents at special events

• Celebratory riots at athletic events• Disruptive attendees• Disputes about entry @ closed events• Fights, shootings, & stabbing during &

after events

Student Special EventsSTUDENT SPECIAL EVENTS



• High-risk drinking• Gender/sexual violence• Criminal intrusions• Event based violence• Rampage shooters• Terrorist threat

CAMPUS VIOLENCE LANDSCAPE



• Often associated with large student parties

– UConn Spring weekend

• A 20-year-old University of Connecticut student died Saturday of head injuries from a fight outside a restaurant during Spring Weekend

– JMU block party

• “Some got in fights when other partiers accidentally bumped into them, she said. People with blood streaming down their faces and arms rushed past her.”

FIGHTS, STABBINGS, AND SHOOTINGS



• UConn football player killed:

– “The University of Connecticut is mourning the loss of football player Cornerback Jasper Howard, a starter for the Huskies, was killed Sunday morning in a stabbing that took place on campus (after an on-campus party).”

• http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/connecticut-cornerback-jasper-howard-killed-in-on-campus-stabbin/




• Duquesne University – September 2006– 5 students shot following an on-campus party

• Delaware State University – September 2007– Two students shot during on campus; Shalita Middleton later

died from her injuries

• Villanova University – November 2007– Shots fired following a dance on campus

• Florida Atlantic University – April 2008– Shots fired at an on-campus Spring party




• Texas Southern – July 2009

– 6 shot during on-campus event

• Langston University – August 2009

– 3 non-students shot following on-campus party

• University of Connecticut – October 2009

– Football player Jasper Howard killed following on-campus party

• Diablo Valley College – March 2010

– Shooting following a Rugby match

FIGHTS, STABBINGS AND SHOOTINGS



• Potential Lethal Mix– Students and non-students

– Alcohol and other drugs

– Egos

– Security

RISK AT CAMPUS EVENTS



• Time of the incidents are in the early morning hours;

• Each has a triggering event: argument, fights, anger, vengeance, jealousy, domestic related;

• Suspects are consistently male;• Not clear if they all occur at non-school

sponsored events, but they all have a link to student access to university space;

• Weapon of choice is a firearm

THE RESEARCH



1. Coordination

2. Pre-event planning

3. Event Protocols

4. Post-Event Protocols

5. After-Action Review

ENSURING INCIDENT-FREE EVENTS



1. COORDINATION

•Close coordination in & out

•The Inside Team - Student Affairs, Greek Life, Student Organization Advisors, Student Center, Public Safety, Risk Management

•External Constituents - Local police, public works, EMS, fire, etc.

1. COORDINATION



Policy

• Thresholds (types, size, triggers, liability)

• Venues (academic, admin, res hall, multipurpose)

• Alcohol/No-Alcohol

• Guests (private/public)

• Access

• Security (type, staffing, costs)

I. COORDINATION



2. PRE-EVENT PLANNING

• Conduct pre-event orientations

• Conduct pre-event review of assignments

• Training

• Identify/mitigate hazards

• Review schedule of event activities





• Review venue/event diagram

• Review event specific policies and procedures

• Review event specific alcohol policies and procedures

• Review specific event ticketing and credentialing policies




3. EVENT PROTOCOLS

• Adjust to crowd demographics

• Anticipate crowd activities and behavior

• Maintain the usability of means of egress

• Make guests aware of their responsibilities

• Observe crowd for potential problems

3. EVENT PROTOCOLS



3. EVENT PROTOCOLS

• Monitor flow of crowd during duration of event

• Recognize potential crowd crush

• React/report potential crowd problems

• Identify changing crowd behavior and demeanor

3. EVENT PROTOCOLS



4. POST-EVENT PROTOCOLS

• Danger Zone

• Ensure adequate staffing and coverage both inside/outside the event

• Ensure crowd completely disperses and maintain presence

• Patrol other gathering spaces on campus

• Coordinate with local police

4. POST-EVENT PROTOCOLS



5. AFTER ACTION REVIEW

• Helpful to conduct “hot-wash” for most major events

• Must conduct after-action review for events where incident occurs

• Who, what, where, how, why?

• What will we do differently next time

• Use other incidents as tabletop exercises for your planning group

5. AFTER ACTION REVIEW



• Event management system (software) - accessible by all campus event planners

• Assign primary responsibility for special event risk assessment and approval to one office or person (e.g., public safety or risk management)

• Risk Assessment Committee (multidisciplinary) to systematically assess risks of campus events

• Develop formal approval process and related forms

• Training program for student security, public safety/police, and guest services

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS



• Consider using a professional crowd management vendor

• Unified radio equipment and use of metal detectors and wands

• Identify policies and procedures specific to late night events (e.g., location staffing; guest admittance, occupancy, hours, etc).

• Tailgating policy (e.g., time, location, permission, organization)

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS



• While the precise contours of this duty will vary from state to state, institutions of higher education generally have a legal duty to act reasonably to provide a campus environment that is reasonably safe from foreseeable general criminal activity by students, employees, or third parties

LEGAL DUTIES Legal Duties for Special Events



• Student special events are potentially lethal

• Proper risk assessment & coordination can mitigate potential dangers and liability

SUMMARY Summary



• Coordination

• Pre-event planning

• Event Protocols

• Post-Event Protocols

• After-Action Review

ENSURING INCIDENT-FREE EVENTS



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CONTACT


2012 URMIA - Threats from Campus Violence and Student Special Events: Awareness, Prevention, and Response

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