Security Issues at Student Special Events

Gary J. Margolis, Ed.D.

AGENDA

• Introductions

• A Conversation…

• Fights, Stabbings and Shootings

• The Research

• 5 Steps

• Recommendations

Tweet Tweet

@margolishealy

#NASPALaw

• Several high profile violent incidents at special events

• Celebratory riots at athletic events

• Disruptive attendees

• Disputes about entry @ closed events

• Fights, shootings, & stabbing during & after events

Student Special EventsStudent Special Events

• High-risk drinking

• Gender/Sexual Violence• Criminal intrusions

• Event based violence

• Rampage shooters• Terrorist threat

Campus Violence Landscape

• Often associated with large student parties

– UConn Spring weekend

‣ A 20-year-old University of Connecticut student died Saturday of head injuries from a fight outside a restaurant during Spring Weekend

– JMU block party

‣ “Some got in fights when other partiers accidentally bumped into them, she said. People with blood streaming down their faces and arms rushed past her.”

Fights, Stabbings & Shootings

• UConn football player killed:

– “The University of Connecticut is mourning the loss of football player Cornerback Jasper Howard, a starter for the Huskies, was killed Sunday morning in a stabbing that took place on campus (after an on-campus party).”

http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/connecticut-cornerback-jasper-howard-killed-in-on-campus-stabbin/

Fights, Stabbings & Shootings

• Duquesne University – September 2006– 5 students shot following an on-campus party

• Delaware State University – September 2007– Two students shot during on campus; Shalita Middleton later died from

her injuries

• Villanova University – November 2007– Shots fired following a dance on campus

• Florida Atlantic University – April 2008– Shots fired at an on-campus Spring party

Fights, Stabbings & Shootings

• Texas Southern – July 2009

– 6 shot during on-campus event

• Langston University - August 2009

– 3 non-students shot following on-campus party

• University of Connecticut – October 2009

– Football player Jasper Howard killed following on-campus party

• Diablo Valley College – March 2010

– Shooting following a Rugby match

Fights, Stabbings & Shootings

• Potential Lethal Mix– Students and non-students

–Alcohol and other drugs

–Egos

– Security

Risk at Campus Events

• Time of the incidents are in the early morning hours;

• Each has a triggering event: argument, fights, anger, vengeance, jealousy, domestic related;

• Suspects are consistently male;

• Not clear if they all occur at non-school sponsored events, but they all have a link to student access to university space;

• Weapon of choice is a firearm;

The Research

1. Coordination

2. Pre-event planning

3. Event Protocols

4. Post-Event Protocols

5. After-Action Review

Ensuring Incident-Free EventsEnsuring Incident-Free Events

1. COORDINATION

•Close coordination in & out

•The Inside Team

- Student Affairs, Greek Life, Student Organization Advisors, Student Center, Public Safety, Risk Management

•External Constituents

- Local police, public works, EMS, fire, etc.

Policy

- Thresholds (types, size, triggers, liability)

- Venues (academic, admin, res hall, multipurpose)

- Alcohol/No-Alcohol

- Guests (private/public)

- Access

- Security (type, staffing, costs)

1. COORDINATION

2. PRE-EVENT PLANNING

• Conduct pre-event orientations

• Conduct pre-event review of assignments

• Training

• Identify/mitigate hazards

• Review schedule of event activities

2. PRE-EVENT PLANNING

• Review venue/event diagram

• Review event specific policies and procedures

• Review event specific alcohol policies and procedures

• Review specific event ticketing and credentialing policies

3. EVENT PROTOCOLS

• Adjust to crowd demographics

• Anticipate crowd activities and behavior

• Maintain the usability of means of egress

• Make guests aware of their responsibilities

• Observe crowd for potential problems

3. EVENT PROTOCOLS

• Monitor flow of crowd during duration of event

• Recognize potential crowd crush

• React/report potential crowd problems

• Identify changing crowd behavior and demeanor

4. POST-EVENT PROTOCOLS

• Danger Zone

• Ensure adequate staffing and coverage both inside/outside the event

- Ensure crowd completely disperses and maintain presence

- Patrol other gathering spaces on campus

- Coordinate with local police

5. AFTER ACTION REVIEW

• Helpful to conduct “hot-wash” for most major events

• Must conduct after-action review for events where incident occurs

- Who, what, where, how, why?

- What will we do differently next time

• Use other incidents as tabletop exercises for your planning group

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS

• Event management system (software) - accessible by all campus event planners

• Assign primary responsibility for special event risk assessment and approval to one office or person (e.g., public safety or risk management)

• Risk Assessment Committee (multidisciplinary) to systematically assess risks of campus events

• Develop formal approval process and related forms

• Training program for student security, public safety/police, and guest services

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS

• Consider using a professional crowd management vendor

• Unified radio equipment and use of metal detectors and wands

• Identify policies and procedures specific to late night events (e.g., location staffing; guest admittance, occupancy, hours, etc).

• Tailgating policy (e.g., time, location, permission, organization)

While the precise contours of this duty will vary from state to state, institutions of higher education generally have a legal duty to:

Act reasonably to provide a campus environment that is reasonably safe from foreseeable general criminal activity by students, employees, or third parties

Legal Duties for Special Events

Event security and crime prevention-related practices/policies can become standards of care when widely adopted

Widely-Adopted Practices

• Student Special Events are Potentially Lethal

• Proper risk assessment & coordination can mitigate potential dangers and liability

Summary

• Coordination

• Pre-event planning

• Event Protocols

• Post-Event Protocols

• After-Action Review

Ensuring Incident-Free EventsEnsuring Incident-Free Events

Contact Information

www.margolishealy.com