[Cwgrad-announcements] Re: FW: Occupational hazards

[Charles Whitney]

See below:

I am sure new campus policies are on the way:  In 
the interim, the phone number for the Counseling 
Center is 2-5531; the center recommends, if you 
have a profoundly upset student, that you offer 
to walk them over to the center (office hours are 
8-5 M-F).  If the student refuses to go to the 
counseling center AND if you believe the student 
represents a risk to himself/herself and/or 
others, call the campus police at 2-5222; if 
they're being disruptive or if you believe 
imminent harm is possible, do not hesitate:  call 
911.  The counseling center website is 
http://counseling.ucr.edu/. The website has a 
list of other places to refer students: 
http://counseling.ucr.edu/Resources/Emergency+Information.htm 
It also has a brochure, 'Assisting the 
Emotionally Distressed Student: A Guide to 
Faculty and Staff," free for the asking.  I have 
a copy if anybody wants to borrow for a quick read.

At 01:13 PM 4/18/2007, Amanda J Labagnara wrote:
>
>Dear All,
>
>
>This article, from today's LA Times, brought 
>back memories of a frightening, volatile, and 
>intimidating student we had some years ago in 
>CRWT.  This student was much like Cho, and it's 
>scary how similarly I (and other of our CRWT 
>faculty) dealt with him in the ways described in 
>the article.  If anything "good" comes of this 
>terrible tragedy, may it be that colleges and 
>universities immeditately institute some 
>effective programs to closely track, counsel, 
>and closely monitor disturbed and potentially violent students--
>
>"Well-known poet Nikki Giovanni, who taught him 
>creative writing, observed him in the class with 
>dark sunglasses and a ball cap jammed down over 
>his face. He turned in assignments she found 
>disturbing. Sometimes he snapped unwanted 
>cellphone photos of classmates. Students stopped 
>showing up for class, telling her, "The guy's 
>really creepy." At one point she had guards stationed nearby.
>
>
>Several students and professors who had seen 
>Cho's poetry, plays and fiction from 2005 
>described it as filled with graphic violence.
>
>Lucinda Roy, chairwoman of the English 
>department, worried about his stability and 
>urged him to seek counseling at the school. He apparently did not.
>
>Giovanni, the former creative writing 
>instructor, said she took some of Cho's writing 
>to Roy and told her that she could no longer teach him.
>
>"I couldn't allow him to destroy my class," she said.
>
>Roy agreed to teach Cho in a private tutorial setting, Giovanni said.
>
>Roy gave Cho an A for the semester. Giovanni 
>thinks he got the grade not for talent or 
>effort, but because he was "intimidating" ­ and 
>that it was decided it was best to keep him 
>happy.  (Pamala's personal comment:  Tell it, 
>Nikki!  Amen, amen!  Only one life to live!!!)
>
>"I think he liked the idea that he was a scary 
>guy," Giovanni said. "Some people like that. 
>That's how they define themselves."
>
>Maurya Simon
>
>Professor
>Department of Creative Writing
>University of California Riverside
>900 University Avenue
>Riverside, CA 92521-0318
>
>TEL. (951) 827-2006 (office)
>
>FAX: (951) 827-3619

D. Charles Whitney, Professor and Chair, Creative 
Writing; Professor of Sociology
Department of Creative Writing, 1607 HMNSS
University of California , 900 University Ave.
Riverside, CA  92521-0118 951.827.6076 / Fax 951.827.3619

Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one. - Albert Einstein
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