Your first duty is to ensure the safety of yourself and those you are responsible for at the university. Do not meet with anyone who has threatened you or is an obvious danger to you.
Action Steps
Verbally Abusive Behavior
- Remain calm. Try to calm the person down.
- Try to listen carefully and pay attention to what is said. Let the person know you will help within your ability to do so.
- If the individual does not respond, get the attention of others around you.
- Notify Campus Security at 541-517-5197.
- If the situation escalates or you feel there is an immediate threat, call 9-9-1-1.
- If necessary, leave your workspace. Do so under whatever pretext is necessary.
Physically Aggressive Behavior
- Do not engage the aggressive person. Leave your workspace immediately. Go to a location with other people.
- Notify your supervisor immediately.
- Call Campus Security at 541-517-5197 and/or call 9-9-1-1.
Other Guidelines
- Alert colleagues if you are meeting with someone who has the potential of being violent. Have Campus Security "on-call".
- Keep the door of your meeting place open and position yourself in an area that gives you an easy exit.
- Be aware of and remove any object that could be used as a weapon.
- If your instinct tells you something is wrong, leave immediately.
- Avoid body language that could appear aggressive like hands on hips or angry facial expressions.
- Slow your speaking rate and lower your voice to de-escalate the situation.
- Ask to include a supervisor or administrator if the person needs to feel heard.
- Ask questions to help regain control of the conversation. Avoid defensiveness.
- Never agree or attempt to argue.
- End the conversation if the person is not responsive to your efforts.
- Never touch an outraged person or force them to leave.
- If a weapon becomes evident - leave if possible. If not possible, calmly ask the person to leave any weapon in a neutral location as you continue talking calmly.
- NEVER agree to go to an unmonitored location.
- After the meeting, report behavior to Campus Security and your supervisor.
- Immediately alert other offices if outraged person might seek another person on campus.
