(Act 1084 of 2001; Fayetteville Policies and Procedures 416.0, 416.1, 404.1,
406.1)
The University is committed to providing a safe, healthful workplace that is
free from violence or threats of violence. Reports of threatening or violent
incidents are taken seriously and dealt with appropriately. Individuals who
engage in violent or threatening behavior may be removed from the premises, and
may be subject to dismissal or other disciplinary action, arrest, and/or
criminal prosecution.
Prohibited Behavior
The University does not tolerate behavior that:
- Is violent
- Threatens violence
- Harasses or intimidates other
- Interferes with an individual's legal rights of movement or expression
- Disrupts the workplace, the academic environment, or the University's ability to
provide service to the public
Violent or threatening behavior can include physical acts, oral or written
statements, or gestures and expressions.
Reporting and Action
Guidelines for Immediate Response:
When confronted by an individual who may believe that you have wronged him or
her and who says or implies s/he will shoot you, consider the following:
- Remember that s/he believes that you and others may hold him or her in
lower esteem that s/he deserves. recent research has found that people who
attack or are aggressive towards others do not have low self-esteem. many have
very high self-esteem. Acts that result from road rage are often triggered by
beliefs that the other person has been rude or demonstrated that s/he believes
that the aggressor is unimportant. Students in a doctoral program have
envisioned themselves as obtaining the Ph.D. and having students and other
address them as "Dr." or "Professor." if they perceive that you are taking or
have taken that opportunity away from them, some will become very depressed and
some will become very angry and plan revenge.
If a person appears in your office with a gun, before s/he has a chance to
threaten you, try to communicate that you like the person and are glad to see
him or her. Experts recommend that you do something such as walk immediately
toward the person with your hand out to shake their hand and say, "I am glad to
see you." If s/he refuses to shake your hand, continue to act positive. Try not
to act afraid.
- Be empathetic. If s/he is there with a gun, s/he is angry. Before s/he has
a chance to tell you that s/he is angry with you, tell him or her that you think
s/he should be angry at receiving a failing grade, receiving a letter dropping
him or her from the program, or whatever. "You have studied very hard," or "You
have worked on that paper for a long time," or "You have worked in the program
for a long time." "You must be frustrated." Do not argue with the person. Tell
him or her that you can understand why s/he is mad. Be loud and firm about it.
You are with, not against, him or her.
- Try to change his or her viewpoint from the past and present to the
future. S/he as been thinking about what has been done to him or her. Try to get
him or her to think about the future. "Let's plan what we can do next." "Let's
talk about what other programs you can get into." "A person with your ability
and experience can do better in a good program." "You have a number of
alternatives." Don't threaten him or her with jail or remind him or her of the
consequences if s/he shoots, because that is too much like a dare and makes you
oppositional.
- Try to move him or her to a public place. In public, the person is aware
of others around and is less likely to feel safe about shooting you. "Let's go
talk about what we can do over a coke or a cup of coffee."
In cases where there is no weapon involved, you might suggest that the person
deserves help. Suggest that you walk over to the counseling center in the
University Health Center together. Stay until the individual is able to see a
professional psychologist, psychiatrist, or counselor. You might also suggest
that free counseling is available and dial the counseling center for the person.
Tell the receptionist that the person wants to make an appointment. (If you
suggest that the person needs to make an appointment, s/he will probably never
call, even if you write the number down.)
Guidelines to decrease the probability of a person's coming to your office or
home with a gun:
- Be positive and friendly with students. The more students see you as a
staff member who is on their side, the less they will want to harm you.
- Be empathetic. Students respect faculty or staff who are tough, provided
that they are perceived as fair. When you learn that a student has failed, tell
him or her that you are sympathetic and understand that s/he tried. Tell him or
her that you believe that s/he would have done better if s/he had had more time
to study. (Give the person back his or her self-esteem.)
- Be prepared for anger. If the department is destroying the student's
hopes, how should the student receive the message? Should our model be how we
try to communicate the death of a person to their loved ones? Should our bad
news come by mail? From a personal meeting with the committee? Or from a meeting
with a faculty member or department head who presents other options to the
person about their career?
All members of the University community must cooperate to maintain a safe
work environment. Each unit is responsible for investigating reports of violent
or threatening behavior and taking appropriate action. You should report any
incidents of violent, threatening, harassing, or intimidating behavior in the
workplace to your supervisor, regardless of whether those involved are
University employees or students.
Supervisors and managers who receive reports of violent or threatening
behavior must notify the head of their unit and Human Resources. Human Resources
will assist supervisors and managers in their response to allegations of violent
or threatening conduct. In addition, allegations of violent conduct on the part
of students or student workers must be reported to the Office of the Vice
Chancellor for Student Affairs., and allegations of violent conduct on the part
of faculty must be reported to the Provost's Office.
If you are particularly uncomfortable with a current or potential situation,
you should call University Police and ask that they send officers to be with
you. In cases of physical assault or direct threats of harm to people or
property, you should call either 911 or 9-911 (either works) from campus phones
or 911 from non-campus phones.
Training in workplace violence prevention and response is available through
Employee Training and Development and the Employee Assistance Program. You can
call 575-4432 to arrange training for a department, building, or other unit or
for information on scheduled workplace violence training sessions.
An assessment team will review all reports of actual or threatened violence
on campus and will develop an action plan for the safety and security of
potentially affected employees, as well as follow-up and review for any campus
incidents. Critical stress debriefing will be provided by the Employee
Assistance Program and by the Counseling and Psychological Services unit of the
University Health Center, and by other professionals as needed.
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) provides individuals who have
experienced or been exposed to a traumatic event with help in resolving the
concerns and anxieties that such an experience often causes. A critical incident
is any event that causes an unusually intense stress reaction. Examples include:
a co-worker's or student's death or serious illness; suicide; a violent or
threatening incident at work; a natural disaster that affects people's ability
to function in the workplace; and traumatic accidents that occur in the
workplace. CISD services are available from the Counseling And Psychological
Services area of the University Health center, the Employee Assistance Program,
for Counselors in residence in the residence halls, and from the Council of
Religious Organization, members of which are listed in the campus directory.
In case of incidents of threat to the campus, buildings may be evacuated.
Employees will be instructed about where to relocate and how to determine when
the building may be reoccupied. You should return to the building promptly when
you are advised to do so by emergency response personnel. If the University
decides not to reopen the building for an extended period of time, you may be
sent home, and no leave time will be charged to your account. If a building is
not evacuated but you feel uncomfortable with the work environment, you are
allowed to leave, but the time you spend away from work will be charged to your
annual leave. Employees will be kept informed whenever an incident is made known
to the University administration through voice mail messages, e-mail, and campus
headlines. Building executives or their alternates will be kept informed about
the status of the situation.