Re: Incident Oct. 3

Hi All,

This discussion is long overdue.

We have known for quite a while that the mental health resources available for students at SFU -- many of whom are living far away from family -- are hopelessly inadequate. I believe Health Services currently has one psychologist to handle all affective disorders. This includes very serious cases that may not quite meet the threshold for a clear and present danger to the student's life.

My understanding is that other Canadian schools (like Memorial) have been far more pro-active in experimenting with ways to safeguard the most vulnerable members of their student body.

Having a better-trained and more sensitive faculty would, I agree with Prof. Scott, be a step in the right direction. But no matter how much better trained we become the fact remains that we are not Health-Care professionals. Speaking personally, I experience a terrible, sinking feeling whenever I intervene in the lives of very depressed and distressed students. I have no relevant qualifications. I get involved when they reach out only because they have so few available medical options on Campus, and in Vancouver more generally. Most of them don't even have GP's.

Best,

Sam Black

Assoc. Prof. Philosophy, SFU

Dear folks

I should add that MBB has had to develop its own policy on what profs should do when there’s a suicide. Lisa Craig did this on her own, as MBB’s UCC chair, and with feedback from the administration. SFU’s administration doesn’t have such a policy; it said it’s working on one last spring, but, to my knowledge, nothing has been circulated to the faculties yet. These issues, regarding the lack of continuity around students’ safety & security across campus, should be addressed ASAP.

I’d like to point out that the SFU administration has dedicated $3M/year x 3 years on the “student experience”. Most of the planning for it was done by the administration in collaboration with students. From what I can tell, none of its working groups are focused on “professional development” of faculty & staff around the student experience, and creating consistent policy/governance regarding students across campus.

Currently, the “cultural” perspective on students, and their role & rights in the university varies hugely across academic & research units. Most units don’t have constitutions defining their governance, nor where students fit into the local “culture” of a unit. Tenure-track faculty are typically not trained to teach, nor are any faculty or staff taught ethical behavior in dealing with students, or how to deal with problems they may be facing, including their security.

In applying for grants these days, I routinely have to pass “professional development” learning modules on how to treat collaborators, study subjects, and animals ethically.

Similarly, SFU could make some 1-time expenditures to develop consistent policy and implementation strategies around how we, as faculty, staff & contract workers, can enhance the student experience by acting in well-articulated, shared practices & attitudes that are consistent across campus. That professional development should include training on the issues of security that have arisen recently.

There is an “extra” working group for “ideas too good to ignore” http://www.sfu.ca/student-experience-initiative/key-action-areas.html Perhaps, if people were interested, this avenue could be explored through that working group opportunity...

Sorry for the long rant!

Best to you all

Jamie

Sent from my iPhone

Jamie K. Scott, MD, PhD

Professor
Dept. Molecular Biology & Biochemistry
and Faculty of Health Sciences
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, BC V5A1S6 Canada
Office phone: (778) 782-5658
Cell: (604) 782-1814
Email: jkscott@sfu.ca

On Oct 14, 2018, at 7:39 AM, Nancy Forde <nforde@sfu.ca> wrote:

I learned of this from a family member on social media. I was stunned not to have heard of it from SFU. I would like to know what type of first aid and consoling services the students were/are being provided. I would also know if there are ways that we as faculty can be trained to cope with such situations.

Please let me / us know if your inquiries get anywhere and, if not, whom we can also pressure to get answers.

Best wishes,

Nancy

Nancy Forde

Professor of Physics

On Oct 13, 2018, at 6:19 PM, David Macalister <david_macalister@sfu.ca> wrote:

I completely agree. I contacted Mark Lalonde, the university’s risk manager, asking why no statement has gone out. So far, I have not received a response. Very disappointing.

David MacAlister

Director, School of Criminology

SFU

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 13, 2018, at 5:42 PM, James Fleming <james_fleming@sfu.ca> wrote:

Dear colleagues,

We are getting media reports of a serious, violent incident more than a week ago during an SFU English class. As far as I am aware, neither faculty, nor our students, have been informed about this event by university administrators, at any level. In my opinion this is shocking, and incompetent. Our students are asking questions on social media as to why they have been kept in the dark.

For what it's worth. JDF

James Dougal Fleming

Professor, Department of English

Simon Fraser University

Burnaby, BC, Canada