In light of recent campus shootings, the University of Wisconsin Police Department gave its first presentation Wednesday about “Avenger Violence” to raise awareness about preventative measures and survival strategies.
An avenger is an individual who takes initiative against a perceived injustice, UWPD Officer Erik Pearce said.
According to UWPD Detective Carol Ann Glassmaker, avengers never just “snap.” They always give clues that something is going to happen. She said ignoring these signals may lead to future tragedies.
“It’s important to see that some people are basically just asking for help,” she said.
Many of the campus shootings that have occurred since 1967—including the Virginia Tech tragedy—are attributed to a lack of communication about abnormal behavior, Glassmaker said.
“It’s hard to strike that balance between being paranoid and being prepared,” Mary Thompson-Shriver, School of Education advisor, said. “You don’t want to have people be totally fearful, but they still need to be aware.”
Some faculty members and professors are scared to report abnormal behavior about student activity due to a misunderstanding of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, she said.
“FERPA is about educational records, it is not about observable behavior,” said Glassmaker. “[FERPA] shouldn’t be a barrier to campus safety.”
Indicators of potential violence include poor impulse control, substance abuse and a preoccupation with violence, Glassmaker said. By monitoring individuals who exhibit these behaviors, it is possible to get them the help that they need.
“It doesn’t mean that they’re a bad person and this is going to affect their history,” Glassmaker said. “It’s not about hurting people, it’s about the behaviors and getting them help.”
Pearce said mass-casualty shooters go through five behavioral phases: fantasy, planning, preparation, approach and implementation.
“If you doubt where to call, just call [UWPD],” he said. “It is not incorrect to call us with any questions or concerns.”
In the event of a mass shooting, the first thing should be to get out of the area, Pearce said. After reaching safety, call 911. If unable to get out of the situation, hide or keep the individual out of the room. He said when none of these options work—fight.
