Officials Analyze Warning Signs of Violent Behavior in Students

University officials released a letter to faculty on Feb. 14 outlining signs of potential violent behavior, and the proper response if an official or faculty member notices students exhibiting such indicators. The letter was released just hours before a gunman at Northern Illinois University killed five students, injured 18 others, and took his own life.

The letter was part of “an ongoing effort” to address campus violence, according to Columbia Senior Executive Vice President Robert Kasdin.

The University has been “looking at how to make this [Columbia] a safe environment” since the shootings at Virginia Tech killed 32 students in April 2007, a University official said.

“There is no guaranteed formula for predicting future behaviors, particularly the rare potential for behavior that becomes threatening or violent,” the letter—signed by Kasdin and Provost Alan Brinkley—stated. “However, there are a host of indicators we can all be attentive to that may raise red flags and that deserve further scrutiny.”

The letter listed specific actions and types of behavior—including threats, harassment, plans for violence, possession of weapons, extreme irritability, escalating substance abuse, and cruel behavior—that may indicate “even the small potential for dangerous acts.”

“These behavioral indicators take on added importance in certain contexts,” such as social isolation, history of violence, paranoia, or a disregard for rules or authority, the letter read. “It may be important to bring even lesser infractions to their [University deans’] notice, because you may be one of several people who have noted behaviors, which in isolation are only mildly worrisome, but which taken together, may be suggestive of a more urgent problem.”

Clinicians from Columbia’s Counseling and Psychological Services and representatives of various anti-violence organizations were not available for comment Monday.

In response to the Northern Illinois University shooting, both Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.) have individually proposed federal legislation that would expand the current Secure our Schools program to increase the amount of federal funding given to schools for security. The legislation, dubbed the School Safety Enhancements Act, would also allow funding to be used toward a telephone hotline for security tips.

Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a press release that he aimed to ensure that money from the School Safety Enhancements Act would benefit New York City schools, though a representative from his press office did not return calls for comment.

daniel.amzallag@columbiaspectator.com