Panel reflects on WU's ability to identify troubled students
By: Angela Ludwinski
Issue date: 4/26/07 Section: News
Someone diagnosed with an eating disorder also would be required to undergo treatment. Also, if a student makes violent threats to staff, faculty or other students, they can be removed.
Susan Stang, a professor of photography, pointed out the student in the fake scenarios would not have been removed from Webster. He or she would still be there because the student had not shown any acts of violence or made threats. She later conceded it might not matter what the administration does because removing students from school does not necessarily fix their mental health.
"They could have kicked him out and he still could have come back angrier than before and committed the shootings," Stang said. "That action may not fix the problem."
There also was some concern among faculty after finding out Webster does not ask applicants if they have a prior criminal record or whether or not they have been suspended or removed from a school.
"We don't have the (resources) to do that," Hoef said. "If we did, that would be great."
Another issue that was brought up addressed having proper communication between all levels of the administration, so each will know of incidents of bizarre and disturbing behavior. The solution was to make sure incidents are reported to both Student Affairs and Counseling and Life Development office.
A lack of communication begins when a faculty member refers a student to counseling because of issues that arise in the classroom. "Seventy-six of the 400 students that came for counseling (in 2006) did so because of a referral," said Patrick Stack, director of counseling.
If a student goes to counseling, the faculty member who referred them will receive a form stating the student went. Even if a student is referred to counseling, it does not mean that Student Affairs knows about the referral.
"Every incident needs to be reported to Student Affairs, so it can be documented," Hoef said.
Susan Stang, a professor of photography, pointed out the student in the fake scenarios would not have been removed from Webster. He or she would still be there because the student had not shown any acts of violence or made threats. She later conceded it might not matter what the administration does because removing students from school does not necessarily fix their mental health.
"They could have kicked him out and he still could have come back angrier than before and committed the shootings," Stang said. "That action may not fix the problem."
There also was some concern among faculty after finding out Webster does not ask applicants if they have a prior criminal record or whether or not they have been suspended or removed from a school.
"We don't have the (resources) to do that," Hoef said. "If we did, that would be great."
Another issue that was brought up addressed having proper communication between all levels of the administration, so each will know of incidents of bizarre and disturbing behavior. The solution was to make sure incidents are reported to both Student Affairs and Counseling and Life Development office.
A lack of communication begins when a faculty member refers a student to counseling because of issues that arise in the classroom. "Seventy-six of the 400 students that came for counseling (in 2006) did so because of a referral," said Patrick Stack, director of counseling.
If a student goes to counseling, the faculty member who referred them will receive a form stating the student went. Even if a student is referred to counseling, it does not mean that Student Affairs knows about the referral.
"Every incident needs to be reported to Student Affairs, so it can be documented," Hoef said.
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