Ensuring the security of the entire community
After the horrible events at Dawson College and Virginia Tech, numerous experts weighed in with analysis of the perpetrators’ online profiles and other clues to their instability.
It’s easy to make those judgments after the fact.
Peter Côté’s Office of Rights and Responsibilities is charged with making that assessment before things become violent. The office also helps students, faculty and staff manage threatening situations, discrimination and harassment.
“If there’s an immediate threat or the possibility of criminal activity, then security should be called,” Côté said. That number is ext. 3717 or 514-848-3717 from off-campus and from campus payphones free of charge.
Meanwhile, anyone who feels intimidated or threatened by another member of the university community can go to Côté’s office to report on the situation. The Code of Rights and Responsibilities outlines a number of potential responses.
Most likely, members of the security team, along with Counselling and Health Services, will form a case management team to evaluate the situation.
If the situation is serious enough to warrant a charge under the code, a Hearing Board would be established to listen to both sides and determine the best course of action.
“The lesson we have learned, through hard experience, is that we do not take chances with the safety of the Concordia community. We would rather err on the side of caution when we are dealing with a potential threat,” Côté said. The Code is intended to allow the university to respond effectively when someone has been identified as a threat to themselves or others.
Côté is currently working with a committee made up of representatives from various sectors of the university to develop a policy for other situations. “It would allow the university to respond to mental health issues without using the heavy hand of the Code.” He expects that policy to be in place by the fall.
Given the climate created by recent incidents, he is aware of the possibility of over-reacting to certain material. “Nothing in this code can take away from the right to freedom of expression or academic freedom,” he emphasized. The intention is not to discourage certain types of expression.
To learn more, or to discuss a problem, contact Côté at GM-1120, call ext. 4857, or send an email to advisor@alcor.concordia.ca.
Meanwhile, in case of a threat from the outside, information will be regularly posted on the homepage or news.concordia.ca. If you can’t access the internet call ext. 8800, or 514-848-8800 from off campus.