CAMPUS SPECIAL EVENT MANAGEMENT: MHA NASPA Law Conference 2011
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Transcript of CAMPUS SPECIAL EVENT MANAGEMENT: MHA NASPA Law Conference 2011
Security Issues at Student Special Events
Gary J. Margolis, Ed.D.
AGENDA
• Introductions
• A Conversation…
• Fights, Stabbings and Shootings
• The Research
• 5 Steps
• Recommendations
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• 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