               
|
 |
| Home : Parent
Communications : Past Articles of Interest |
Campus and student safety
at the U
From the Winter 2008 Parent Newsletter
Last spring, the national spotlight turned to Blacksburg,
Virginia, and the shootings at Virginia Tech. The profound
grief and concern expressed nationally were shared by students,
faculty, and staff here at the University of Minnesota.
The shootings accentuated the susceptibility campuses have to such threats and
raised questions about the ability of universities to adequately care for their
students and employees. These questions are particularly salient for parents
seeking assurances that universities take seriously the charge of safeguarding
their children.
If there was a silver lining to the Virginia Tech shootings, it might be found
in the “Report to the President on Issues Raised by the Virginia Tech Tragedy,”presented
in June to President Bush. Derived from interviews with educators, law enforcement,
state and local officials, and mental health experts, the report identifies five
findings, four of which have relevance to university communities as they address
campus safety.
1. Coordination and communication
The report indicates that concerns about the shooter had been expressed by several
people and units at Virginia Tech, but that a comprehensive picture of his potential
for violence had not been constructed. It has been suggested that this can happen
when campus units function independently. For example, academic units may not
see units in student affairs as partners. Broaden the lens and such breakdowns
can also be found between campus and community resources. Improved avenues for
communication and unified coordination systems are needed.
2. Awareness of warning signs
All members of a campus community need to be taught to identify behaviors of
concern. This applies not only to faculty and staff but also to students, who
may maintain a ‘code of silence’or discount warning signs, and to
parents as well. Clearly identified sources need to be available for confidential
reporting.
3. Access to mental health resources
There is a need for accessible and coordinated mental health resources on campus
and in the community.
4. Improve implementation of plans
While intervention systems and protocols were largely in place at Virginia Tech,
plans were not implemented as hoped. Practice and effective communication is
needed for resources to act efficiently.
What is the University of Minnesota doing to prevent something like what happened
at Virginia Tech?
First, our campus is well-served by two mental health services—Boynton
Mental Health Clinic and University Counseling & Consulting Services—and
by the Disability Services office (item 3). Second, the Provost’s Committee
on Mental Health (PCMH) is an innovative initiative that addresses the President’s
report findings. Created prior to the Virginia Tech shootings by Senior Vice
President for Academic Affairs & Provost Tom Sullivan, the PCMH acknowledges
the shared responsibility of addressing mental health issues on campus, from
counseling center staff to faculty to housing and police and other campus departments.
The committee’s objectives include raising awareness of mental health issues
(item 2) and providing a common, campuswide forum for mental health discussions
(items 1 and 4).
With the Office for Student Affairs, the PCMH helped create BIT (Behavioral Intervention
Team) and a comprehensive Mental Health Web site (www
.mentalhealth.umn.edu). Consisting of representatives from campus
mental health services, campus police, student affairs, and other offices, BIT
assesses potentially volatile situations and creates and coordinates a plan of
action. The Mental Health Web site is dedicated to mental health education and
resources. Parents will find a page specifically for them on the site, and a
series of online workshops for parents is also available.
Finally, the University recently unveiled the start of its Stamp Out Stigma (SOS)
campaign, which was designed to increase understanding and awareness of mental
health concerns. |
|
Dr. Scott Slattery, University Counseling & Consulting
Services, addresses questions from parents of University of Minnesota
students. He may be reached at 612-625-4568 or slatt008@umn.edu.
|
