Intervening to Minimize Violence on Campus

1. Intervening to Minimize Violence on Campus Mary Anne Knapp, LCSW Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) University Park, PA 16802

2. Violence on Campus- Interventions from a Psychological Perspective. • Campus fears about violence-recent devp. • Violence prediction- old and new • Encouraging a climate of respect & non violence • Progressive engagement around behaviors of concern • Viewing scenes on-line and discussing issues of participants

3. What do we think about when we think about Violence on campus? • Dramatic events at Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois, University of Alabama • What about Penn State? - HUB Lawn shooting 1996 • Murders of students by students/nonstudents • Assaults on other students- drunk or sober • Harassment- sexual and discriminatory • Relationship violence/Sexual Assaults

4. Violence and You- What do you bring to the Interaction? • What is your role with students? • Protect your own safety. • Consult as needed. • Have you been the victim of violence? Do you have a “short fuse”? • Are you likely to over or under react? • What resources will you need to address the situation?

5. Traditional Person-Centered Ways of Assessing Violence Potential • Leads to many False positives • High percentage of students exhibit some or many of these traits • We can’t kick them all out of school • What can we do?

6. Warning Signs or Risks factors for Violence- Traditional/clinical assessment • Past violence ** • Gender (Male) • Lack of empathy for others • High levels of anger • Childhood experiences- physical abuse, antisocial parents, especially identifying with abuser • Personality Disorders • Substance abuse • Important relationship “gone wrong”-major disappointment or disgrace • Specific Command hallucinations

7. Risk factors for Violence (cont) • Any conditions that in combination lead a student to have trouble with their perception and interpretation of events and/or impairs impulse control • When a student has access to weapons and fascination with weapons • When there is a plan to carry out violence** • Then it’s critical to take immediate action**

8. Psychological interview for Violence- Will Wadlington to CAPS staff- 10/17/07 • Judgment- Does the student know right from wrong? Can they predict consequences of actions? • Insight- Do they understand reasons and causes for their feelings and behaviors? Do they know what’s normative? • Impulse control- Are they able to inhibit themselves and prevent unwanted behavior?

9. Progressive Engagement- When students “cross the line”. • Find out what happened to the extent possible from all parties (JA, Res Life or Police role) • Convey concern for the student even if they have engaged in questionable &/Or violent behavior • Convey behavioral expectations • Convey consequences • Offer help/referral if student needs support to avoid problem behaviors or to deal with violence from others • Remember to Consult & Document • Meet again with progressive consequences for further episodes of concern

10. How can we minimize violence? • Understanding and connecting to students- Being student centered w/ all students. • Understanding our own issues/feelings about potential violence • Conveying concern for the student & Curious Inquiry re event. • Being there to support pro-social behavior, safety and healthy non-violent campus climate • Asking clarifying questions to learn the meaning of behavior. Is it an intentional violation or lack of awareness? What did they mean by-----? • Looking for Educational opportunities to convey behavioral expectations & other options

11. How can we minimize violence?- (Cont) • Conveying a sense of expectations- What’s ideal behavior and what’s “crossing the line”? • When are we making a suggestion and when is it a requirement? Who’s in charge of an interaction? • Being clear about the consequences for violence. • Progressive engagement for repeat events. • Escalation as needed for serious offenses • Parental Notification & Duty to Warn in emergency situations • Threat Assessment , Students of Concern Teams

12. Resources when you are concerned about Potential or Actual Violence • University Police 863-1111 at UP or Campus police or security. 911 Police/Ambulance • Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) 863-0395 UP or campus counseling resources Usually 8 am-5 pm Monday-Friday • Centre County CAN HELP line 1-800-643-5432 and other community crisis lines or Hospital ERs. • Judicial Affairs (UP) 863-0432 for Student Misconduct • Campus Directors of Academic Affairs or Director of Student Affairs for Consultation/Intervention Joe Puzycki 863-4926 UP • Consulting with Supervisor or Coworkers • Threat Assessment Team/Response Team on your campus

13. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act • FERPA • What’s allowed in terms of disclosure to parents or other concerned parties? • Who decides when there is sufficient danger to health and safety to warrant disclosure?

14. Web Workshops • Worrisome Student Behaviors- • http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/caps/wsb/ • Students in Distress- • http://www.sa.psu.edu/caps/distress/