Accusations of racism, threats

O

Oleg Volk

Staff Alumnus
One of my best friends is a teacher at a community college. A while back she got threats froma student but did not follow up on them. Now this same (completely brain-dead) student is accusing her of flunking him because he is of a different race, threatening a lawsuit (which I do not think he can do). Not that his non-existing skills had anything to do with his current predicament...

I expect this to be very interesting indeed. Fortunately, my friend is at least slightly competent with a pistol and I happn to work very close by, too. While I am not sure that the threats would be addressed at all by the school admins, I am keeping a close eye on the situation.

Now, a question: if any of you have had similar experiences or any others that were helped by a judicious use of the local media, please let me know what you did. I might learn something from your experience and apply it to the little twerp.

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Oleg "peacemonger" Volk

http://dd-b.net/RKBA
 
Oleg, I suggest your friend get a "restraining order" based on this scroat's threats. Not that I believe that this piece of paper means squat to some scroat out to do your teacher friend harm. But, if you or your friend have to cap this turds in self-defence when he violates that order, you are in a much better situation legally!

Regards! DaMan

[This message has been edited by DaMan (edited August 18, 2000).]
 
I second the restraining order idea, which will require a witness to his threats. Your friend also needs to take the usual Condition Yellow defensive measures and especially watch for anyone following her. If she has a CCW permit she should be locked and loaded; if not, OC spray. A cell phone is a must.
 
She has a cell phone, no experience with using OC and not much manual dexterity (batons are out). No CHL around here, except for the gestapo employees. Unfortunately, I dount that she has experience with deep concealment or the ability to use small pistols effectively. Fortunately, she's on sabbatical and so her interaction withthe school is limited.
 
Oleg, I'd also recommend that she get a small tape recorder - Should the guy phone or show up in person, she could have a record of any interactions. Of course, she then has to watch what she says/does, but hey... It's easy to give someone enough rope...

Also, I assume you guys know other folks in your area. Make sure everyone's numbers/pagers are on speed dial, so that if there's a problem, there can be several folks on hand to deal with it, possibly before the cops get there... (hey, I'm in St. Louis - Last time we called the cops, on a hit and run, it took around 20-25 minutes for 'em to show up, which proves my average time of 20 minutes or so response time thus far (3 incidents - mugging, drive-by, hit & run) is about right... FWIW, we had the plate on the hit and run, but never did hear anything back).
 
Greetings,

Is the administration advised of the threats? Is this a violation of student rules that should get a student expelled or suspended? Is there someone who can act as an official advocate for your friend (teachers' assoc. honcho, union official, legal aid, personnel dept.) with the school or in court?

Good luck,

Ledbetter
 
Oleg,
I have been in bad situations but not that bad. I have, however had friends (all female) who were.
Case 1: the unknown stalker. A brand new teacher was being stalked by an unknown student. She had realy freaky letter left for her, felt like she was being followed... She went to the admins who immedately buried their heads in their rectums. Then she went straight to the officer on staff (she was young and very pretty) and he made it his mission to find out who was doing it. In the meantime she had me (6'4") sit in on any of her classes which I could. She felt safer with someone else around. It turned out the girl who was stalking her had also stalked another teacher a few years earlier and the #$^&*$#!! admins didn't say anything. Case solved and the psycho girl was carted off to the cracker factory for rehab.
-have friends around.
-appeal directly to an LEO if possible. The ones I've known would take special cases under their wings.
Case #2: Especially stupid.
The special ed teacher across the hall had a kid threaten her. He was busted two days later in the parking lot before school with a handgun. I think he also had some marijuana. They dropped the weapon charge and gave him a slap on the wrist misdemeanor for having a firearm within 200' of a school. I think he took himself out of school. He rarely showed up anyway. The rest of us kept an eye out for her and made sure that she wasn't alone. We had a great officer for the school (former SEAL) who took exactly zero fertilizer from anyone.
-again, she always had reliable people around
- LEO got personaly involved.

I wish your friend the best.
I have been accused once of racism when a student failed my class. She rarely did any work in the class and never homework. It was the same in all of her classes. She dropped out of school and whelped kids a year or two later. When I showed her grades and testimonials from her other teachers the racism card vanished in a puff of smoke.
I have to say I got lucky, becuase my direct boss was of the same ethnic origin as the disgruntled girl and she was rabidly racist against anyone not of their particular minority group. If she had heard the charge nothing could have saved me.
Such is education.
I am no expert but this guy sounds like a loser and a coward. Make sure that there are always people around your friend. Safety in numbers. Also get to know an LEO and get him/her involved. As for the racism charge- get the records and paperwork that say that this guy is a bum. Admins love paper. If you can get a restraining order, great.
A trump card- there are recent laws against employers not dealing with a 'hostile work environment'. I hate to use legalisms but it's leverage on her employers.
Best of luck.

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Those who use arms well cultivate the Way and keep the rules.Thus they can govern in such a way as to prevail over the corrupt- Sun Tzu, The Art of War
 
1. Lawyer and follow advice
2. School - tell them, make sure school security knows
3. Local police
4. How were the threats made, verbal, by mail - the latter brings in the Feds?
5. Home precautions, tell friends.

Do this first before looking for the gun solution. In fact, this backs you up if bad things happen.

Going to the media will make you look like a nut and unleash sympathetic cranks on you.
 
Oleg, I would vote 'NO' on the restraining order idea.

1. I think they are nearly useless, and
2. There is apparently a lot of evidence that they can push nutcases over the edge.

Suggest that your friend read 'The Gift of Fear' by de Becker - see it on the Books section of the Read Awhile page at www.mothersarms.org . While de Becker is an elitist regarding firearms, his security advice seems to have a lot of merit.

I wish your friend safety, luck and ... straight shooting, if need be.

Live and let live. Regards from AZ
 
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