Identifying Potential Reports

Students expressing the intent to harm themselves or others must be considered as a serious situation. Students may express their signs of distress through written assignments, exams or verbal statements disclosing feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness or helplessness, and feelings of failure and humiliation. Contact Public Safety immediately at 212.237.8888 if a student exhibits this behavior. 

Violent and aggressive impulses can be expressed through verbal threats, threatening e-mails or instant messages, letters, and writing assignments or exams that contain violent or threatening material. Special consideration should be given to repeated, directed and/or specific threats and those that suggest that the student will carry it out. Contact Public Safety immediately at 212.237.8888 if a student exhibits this behavior.

Depressed students may exhibit withdrawal, poor concentration, poor hygiene, loss of self-esteem, or hopelessness. The student might speak in a low flat monotone, have a vacant stare or seem on the verge of crying. The student might also use writing assignments to reveal personal issues inappropriate to the assignment. Students who experience an overwhelming loss such as a death in the family or change in relationship status (e.g. breakup or divorce) may present depressive symptoms. Contact Counseling at 212.237.8111 if a student exhibits this behavior.

Exhibiting behavior which is out of character and/or non-compliant (e.g., student appears emotionally volatile, loses his/her temper, cries easily, appears glassy-eyed or uses profane language). Students may become hostile, belligerent, and/or out of control, causing a crisis situation in class. Contact Public Safety at 212.237.8888 if a student needs to be removed from the classroom. Contact the Director of Student Relations at 212.237.8871 if a student requires follow-up intervention.

Students who are disoriented may exhibit an inability to communicate (e.g. garbled or slurred speech, disjointed thoughts) and loss of contact with reality (e.g., seeing or hearing things that are not there, expressing beliefs or actions at odds with reality). Contact Counseling at 212.237.8111 if a student exhibits this behavior.

Students dealing with violence may exhibit a sudden drop in grades, change in appearance and frequent absences. They may receive multiple phone calls/texts during classes, or/and have someone waiting for them before and after class. If a student describes being followed by a stalker, experiencing violence at home, or in a relationship, or if they appear to have visible injuries, the safety of the student and the campus is at risk. Contact Counseling at 212.237.8111 and/or the Women's Center for Gender Justice at 212.237.8184 if a student exhibits this behavior.