Responding to Difficult Students COTL Presentation August 28, 2007 Mick Miyamoto, Ph. D. Assistant Dean of Students Jon Hageseth, Ph. D. Director, Counseling and Testing

Outline Difficult/Challenging Behaviors Difficult/Challenging Behaviors Sharing some perspectives Sharing some perspectives Conduct Codes and Laws Conduct Codes and Laws Practical Suggestions Practical Suggestions Resources Resources Questions and Hopefully Answers Questions and Hopefully Answers

Based on Your Experiences 2 minute exercise

Consider the following profile of a troubled young adult, based on actual case history… Talked about suicide for weeks at a time Talked about suicide for weeks at a time Reportedly wrote poetry about thrusting a dagger in his heart and drawing blood in showers Reportedly wrote poetry about thrusting a dagger in his heart and drawing blood in showers Was known to go crazy, requiring the removal of knives and dangerous items from his room Was known to go crazy, requiring the removal of knives and dangerous items from his room Purchased opiates and cocaine Purchased opiates and cocaine Wandered around with a gun during periods of suicidal ideation Wandered around with a gun during periods of suicidal ideation Collapsed while speaking openly of his hopelessness and thoughts of suicide Collapsed while speaking openly of his hopelessness and thoughts of suicide Was eventually diagnosed with recurrent major depression. Was eventually diagnosed with recurrent major depression. Did you have a person like this in your class? So who was this risk to himself and society?

Abraham Lincoln Source: Webinar by Gary Pavela: 7/25/07www.magnapubs.com

Predictability Predicting violent behavior is very, very difficult…especially without previous violent behaviors, threats or gestures. Predicting violent behavior is very, very difficult…especially without previous violent behaviors, threats or gestures. Suicide assessment scales have very low predictive value Suicide assessment scales have very low predictive value No accurate or useful profile of the school shooter No accurate or useful profile of the school shooter Source: National Academy of Science

Suicide on Campus is Uncommon Suicide Ideation…. TEN PERCENT think about it (often) TEN PERCENT think about it (often) 1.5% will make a gesture 1.5% will make a gesture 1,000 to 1 odds that one will actually attempt with the intent to die 1,000 to 1 odds that one will actually attempt with the intent to die Suicide is the 2 nd leading cause of death for year olds. Suicide is the 2 nd leading cause of death for year olds. Mental Health Issues Mental Health Issues Source: Paul Applebaum…and David Mays

Lethal Shootings 9 incidents between 1966 and present 9 incidents between 1966 and present 2.25 incidents every 10 years 2.25 incidents every 10 years Not to minimize - Wisconsin Not to minimize - Wisconsin Access to firearms Access to firearms Alcohol Alcohol

Violence & Mental Health Relationship is similar to that between violence and male gender Relationship is similar to that between violence and male gender American with Disabilities Act (ADA) American with Disabilities Act (ADA) The Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act do NOT give students with disabilities a different standard for appropriate behavior. When institution officials determine that a code of conduct has been violated, they can take action as long as it is NOT BASED UPON THE STUDENTS DISABILITIES. Source: LRP Publications, 2005, Vol. 11, Issue 3, October 2005

Discipline Goss v. Lopez (1975) Goss v. Lopez (1975) UWS Chapter ) (a) For conduct that obstructs or seriously impairs or attempts to obstruct or seriously impair university-run or university-authorized activities, or that interferes with or impedes the ability of a member of the university community, or guest, to participate in university-run or university-authorized activities. UWS Chapter ) (a) For conduct that obstructs or seriously impairs or attempts to obstruct or seriously impair university-run or university-authorized activities, or that interferes with or impedes the ability of a member of the university community, or guest, to participate in university-run or university-authorized activities.(

UWS 17 cont… b) Examples of the conduct prohibited under this subsection include, but are not limited to: preventing or blocking physical entry to, or exit from, a university building, corridor or room; engaging in shouted interruptions, whistling, or similar means of interfering with a classroom presentation or a university-sponsored speech or program; obstructing a university officer or employee engaged in the lawful performance of duties; obstructing or interfering with a student engaged in attending classes or participating in university-run or university-authorized activities; or knowingly disrupting access to university computing resources, or misusing university computing resources.

UWS chapter 18 (30) DISORDERLY CONDUCT. No person may engage in violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct under circumstances in which the conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance, in university buildings or on university lands. (30) DISORDERLY CONDUCT. No person may engage in violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct under circumstances in which the conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance, in university buildings or on university lands.

Suggestions Personal Safety Personal Safety LaCrosse Police call 911 LaCrosse Police call 911 University Police call University Police call When should you call the police?

Call if there is Imminent Danger Imminent Danger - Direct Threat Imminent Danger - Direct Threat= a high probability of substantial harm…. a high probability of substantial harm…. CALL UWL POLICE – or 911!

Suggestions Personal Safety Personal Safety La Crosse Police call 911 La Crosse Police call 911 University Police call University Police call Consult Consult

Consultations Paula Knudson, Dean of Students – Paula Knudson, Dean of Students – Office of Student Life, Mick Miyamoto or Marcia Johnson Sage – Office of Student Life, Mick Miyamoto or Marcia Johnson Sage – On Call Staff or Jon Hageseth, Counseling & Testing– On Call Staff or Jon Hageseth, Counseling & Testing– June Reinert, Disability Resource Services – June Reinert, Disability Resource Services – Scott Rohde, Chief University Police – and/or Scott Rohde, Chief University Police – and/or Ingrid Peterson, Violence Prevention Advocate – Ingrid Peterson, Violence Prevention Advocate –

Suggestions Personal Safety Personal Safety La Crosse Police call 911 La Crosse Police call 911 University Police call University Police call Consult Consult Talk with Student – CTC Brochure Talk with Student – CTC Brochure Refer Student, e.g. BIT Refer Student, e.g. BIT

Concerned about a student? Behavior Intervention Team (BIT) consists of staff from: Behavior Intervention Team (BIT) consists of staff from: Office of Student Life Counseling and Testing Student Health Residence Life Campus Police Other units may be called in when appropriate

What we learned from the Virginia Tech tragedy

FERPA The Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act does NOT… The Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act does NOT… Prohibit sharing between those who have a legitimate educational interest/goal

Q&A Ms. June Reinert Disability Resource Services Mr. Scott Rohde Chief of Campus Police