National Jurist - September 2007 - (Page 13)

‘We really think this is a sick joke’ Two days after the Virginia Tech shootings in April, Hastings Law School and its dean, Nell Newton, faced a copycat threat. H er voice calm, but direct, Nell Newton spoke as she stared at the panicked faces of first year students in a contracts class. “Move slowly,” she said. “We really think this is a sick joke. The police are here. We’re confident that everything is going to be OK.” But soon after Newton uttered those words to University of California Hastings law students, they started running out of the building. Just two days after the Virginia Tech massacre this past April, Newton received a message after a luncheon she attended By Michelle Weyenberg that a threat to her school had been posted on the Internet discussion board AutoAdmit.com. “Just decided not to do a murder-suicide copycat at Hastings Law,” the message read. “I went to bed all set for ‘Bloody Wednesday,’ but when I woke — to sun, to flowers in bloom — I just couldn’t bring myself to suit up. Maybe tomorrow; I hear rain’s in the forecast.” When Newton got back to campus, the FBI and San Francisco Police Department advised her to shut down the law school for the day. She agreed and decided to notify each class in person, one-by-one, rather than use the intercom system. “I made a decision that we shouldn’t use [the PA system],” she said, “because I thought that two days after Virginia Tech, to hear a PA crackle and the dean’s voice come on and say we have to close down the school would just lead to hysteria.” Seeing students’ urgent concern for their safety was difficult, Newton says. But her confident approach to the situation throughout the day and night rallied students back to school the following day. “I told them I cared,” Newton said of her communication with her students. “I was very struck by the emotions of our students.” As students scampered out of the downtown campus, many worried that the threat was from one of their own classmates. Hastings Dean Nell Newton said she was struck by the emotions of students after the threat was made public. “I think that just added to the feelings of terror,” Newton said. By 10:30 p.m. that night, authorities had contacted the person said to be responsible for the threat — a first year University of California Boalt Hall School of Law student, whom authorities aren’t identifying. And classes resumed the following day with heightened security throughout the rest of the week. Newton said people need to realize that nothing is truly anonymous on the Internet and there are repercussions. Shortly after the student was identified, UC Berkeley Dean Christopher Edley sent a letter to Newton. He has since recommended expulsion for the student for no less than two years. The decision is currently before the Office of Student Judicial Affairs. Edley said he came to the recommendation based on many factors including stuSeptember 2007 THE NATIONAL JURIST 13 dents, faculty and staff who are angr y and embarrassed that someone in their community had done such a thing. For Hastings, the whole incident was a wakeup call for administrators. They soon began requiring ID’s to get into buildings — something they haven’t done in the past. Focusing on the university’s emergency response was also critical. To make sure current students are getting the help they need, Hastings is conducting a work-study group focusing on how to best reach students in a crisis. “At any school anywhere in the country at any time you have students that are undergoing crisis,” Newton said. “It’s important to figure out how best to reach out to them and get them the help that they need for their sake, but also for the safety and security of the community.” http://AutoAdmit.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of National Jurist - September 2007

National Jurist - September 2007 Contents Free Speech Disturbing the Peace For the Record Judge Approves $49 million BAR/BRI Settlement Law School Causes Emotional Stress, Study Finds New Textbook Breaks the Mold Southern Illinois Settles Lawsuit with Christian Legal Society Ave Maria Law Professors Protest School’s Move The Firm Report Student Hoax Shuts Down Hastings Law NCCU Grad Expands Her Program for Troubled Kids Hawaii Grad Finds Excitement in Saving Whales Diversity Hampering Whittier Accreditation? The Paper Chase Chronicles The Supreme Court: An Insider’s View Detroit Mercy’s Innovative Changes Pay Off Career Hotline The J.D. Files

National Jurist - September 2007

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