Community Violence Prevention Policy

(effective 1/1/07)

Purpose:
Lesley University is committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment, free from threatening and harassing and violent behavior, where all members of the Community may attain their academic and employment goals.

Lesley University does not tolerate acts of intimidation, threats of violence or acts of violence in our Community. Members of the Lesley Community include faculty, staff, students, administration, contractors, and guests. This policy will act as an aid in the recognition of community violence and a guideline for the response by the University to such behavior.

Definitions:

• Intimidation: an intentional act toward another person, causing the other person to reasonably fear for his/her safety or the safety of others.
• Threats of Violence: an intentional act that threatens bodily harm to another person or damage to the property of another.
• Act of Violence: an intentional act that causes bodily harm to another person or to the property of another.

Policy:
Lesley University does not tolerate acts of intimidation, threats of or actual acts of violence against community members by others. The following are some examples of unacceptable behavior:

• Verbally abusive behavior
• Intimidation through direct or implied threats
• Throwing objects, whether a person is or is not the target
• Physically touching another person in an intimidating, malicious, or harassing manner, including hitting, poking, kicking, pinching, grabbing and pushing
• Physically intimidating others including such acts as obscene gestures, shouting, fist shaking, and/or blocking egress
• Conducting a series of acts over a period of time and making threats with the intent to place a person in fear of death or bodily injury (i.e. stalking)

"Stalking" procedure may be found in the University Emergency Plan, which resides on the Lesley website under "E" in the "from A to Z" section. The website address is
www.lesley.edu/security/emergency_plan.html, under the section "Criminal Emergency".

Procedure for Actual or Threatened Potentially Violent Behavior:
In the event of an emergency, perceived emergency or suspected criminal conduct, or other potentially violent acts, community members should call 911 and Lesley Office of Public Safety 617.349.8888 immediately.

If you are working on an off-campus location, please determine the number for the police, and the quickest route to exit prior to an actual emergency.

Procedure for Questionable Behavior:
Any member of the Lesley community who is subject to or witnesses such behavior, as previously defined, and who has concerns or questions about it, should report the incident immediately, using the following procedure.

Staff, administrators, faculty, and service vendors: contact your immediate supervisor, or the Director of Human Resources, or the Director of Campus Services.

Students should contact their School Dean, or the Dean of Student Life and Academic Development, or the Director of Campus Services.