I got a threatening voice mail message today asking me to make sure that I don’t mess with a particular student and award him a good course grade. In my seven years of teaching, this is a first! – but I had a good laugh… because in the message, the student wasn’t named specifically and I was advised that I “probably know who this is regarding”, and if I don’t comply, it could be “unsafe” for me. Of course I know who it is… the guy in question is a real piece of work! – attended 2 classes in the entire school term, screwed up his group because he was MIA for all the group projects, asked for extensions in the individual assignments, and wanted me to re-allocate his class participation marks to another deliverable – which I decided to grant him with a reasonable penalty. Despite this leniency, he is still making excuses turning in his deliverables in time, and now this! – a real piece of work…
and here I thought this type of thing doesn’t really happen here, but then again, this guy is an international student who’s also a spoiled brat - so he’s prolly used to getting his way back home where he comes from. He’s a senior though, and I’m surprised he got through the first three years of his program with this attitude.
woa! Always take a threat seriously! Never take it lightly. You must be cautious for your own safety.
I hope you reported this to authorities. Unbelievable... he thinks he can get away with this.
Make sure you do not act in defense, or try to make sense to him by making him understand... these people don't care much. Just stay out of it as much as you can.
I got a threatening voice mail message today asking me to make sure that I don’t mess with a particular student and award him a good course grade. In my seven years of teaching, this is a first! – but I had a good laugh… because in the message, the student wasn’t named specifically and I was advised that I “probably know who this is regarding”, and if I don’t comply, it could be “unsafe” for me. Of course I know who it is… the guy in question is a real piece of work! – attended 2 classes in the entire school term, screwed up his group because he was MIA for all the group projects, asked for extensions in the individual assignments, and wanted me to re-allocate his class participation marks to another deliverable – which I decided to grant him with a reasonable penalty. Despite this leniency, he is still making excuses turning in his deliverables in time, and now this! – a real piece of work…
and here I thought this type of thing doesn’t really happen here, but then again, this guy is an international student who’s also a spoiled brat - so he's prolly used to getting his way back home where he comes from. He's a senior though, and I'm surprised he got through the first three years of his program with this attitude.
This explains a lot about this call, don't take it seriously. But do tell senior staff or uni security about it. Just for making the record straight !
yeah I'm cautious but not exactly concerned at this time... I'm letting this one slide as a prank until something makes me think otherwise - the guy's still emailing me to talk about his deliverables, and let's see how things pan out in the next few days.
did the message sound serious or a prank? I mean - just with the tone of voice you can tell how much this person has "Worked" on to get this message to you the way he did.
If he is emailing - he is "playing" safe so you don't think it's him.
What you need to do is - SAVE the recorded threat. Make this guy call you - email him that you want to talk to him about this project.
Make sure you then RECORD his voice.... hand it over to authorities!
^ yeah NJMasti, I've saved the message - it sounded like he got a friend to leave the message - similar acccents, different voices.
Even though he's communicating with me, I can tell he's "fishing" to see if I'm offering something else - something easier.
Like I said, right now, this is all somewhat of a source of amusement - I'll see where this leads... and as soon as I get another hint of suspicion, I'll involve the authorities.
To me it looks like a prank call, however you need to inform the authorities for the safe side! just make sure not to blame anyone unless you have any solid proof against him!
I wouldn't underestimate such a situation. It takes a lot of nerve and courage to threaten a professor, if this guy had the guts to make such a threat he seems crazy enough to do anything. If I were you, I'd make an announcement in my class about the message and say that such behavior is not tolerated at the Uni and whoever was stupid enough to make that call can rest assured that their days at this establishment are limited.
Also by making it public knowledge in front of the class it'll scare him since so many people are now aware of it and he'll think twice before even attempting to do anything, let alone threatening you again cuz he'll know that his entire class would suspect him. Best of luck.
You know Lucid, you are being far too generous already and this person is taking advantage of that fact. At our University we could never ever get away with such behaviour, regardless of whether it was considered to be a prank or not. Lecturers are even reluctant to give extensions and such other things, unless we can prove that the situation is pretty dire and almost always evidence is needed i.e. a medical certificate.
I hope things work out for you inshallah and that this person realises how much you have done for them already :)
If I were you, I'd make an announcement in my class about the message and say that such behavior is not tolerated at the Uni and whoever was stupid enough to make that call can rest assured that their days at this establishment are limited.
It's NOT a good idea to make an announcement in class. That's like first grade, where you KNOW you are playing safe.
You know Lucid, you are being far too generous already and this person is taking advantage of that fact. At our University we could never ever get away with such behaviour, regardless of whether it was considered to be a prank or not. Lecturers are even reluctant to give extensions and such other things, unless we can prove that the situation is pretty dire and almost always evidence is needed i.e. a medical certificate.
I hope things work out for you inshallah and that this person realises how much you have done for them already :)
I totally agree with you.
My kids elementry school they are taking kids serious even for something as little as them saying to each other "I'm gonna kill you".... I mean these phrase were commonly used among friends in my generation - but now it's seen as a threat and they are discouraged from using it.
Anyway - Lucid, just be aware, don't lose sleep over it... I know you said it clearly that it might just be a prank... let's hope it is :)
That sure sounds weird. We have such a zero tolerance policy at our school.
We had a situation at our school last fall when one of the Professors was assaulted while going to his car.(He was a Music Teacher! :(
. Read it in the newspaper, which said looked like a gang initiation thing and the students were most probably High school ones. Security is really high now.
But anyway its really weird. It should be dealt in the right manner(eported etc)
Some people need to learn a lesson early on and be told what is expected of them. Get the security involved.And carry mace.(I dnt know if guys carry it too:D ..I do after last years incidences
hmm. had had worse just like this. cultural and / or unfair grading slurs.
the best thing to do is, keep all documentation, scans of exams and your feed back, class participation & class absence records, it's best not to get into a match with such bratty students.
they 'attempt' to work wonders out of their sense of entitlement.
yeah I'm cautious but not exactly concerned at this time... I'm letting this one slide as a prank until something makes me think otherwise - the guy's still emailing me to talk about his deliverables, and let's see how things pan out in the next few days.
You should play safe. It might not be the one you are suspecting. Who knows. Do not take it lightly. This guy does not deserve any tolerance.
You should inform your higher ups and law enforcement. Humans are one of the most unpredictable beings, when a normal or freak person will breakdown and take some drastic measure nobody can predict. So play it as safe as you can.
this sounds like a threat to me and should not be taken lightly (regardless of the real intentions of the student or who it is). he is a senior (if that is really him) and should know better that this is no way to go about the sh|t hole he is in. talking to you face to face and explaining his situation would have been the way to go.
he probably does not realize but this could get him deported. seems like he needs to learn the hard way. i am curious to know where is he from..i understand if you do not want to mention it here.
i have worked as a ta and have come across students who knew they were not doing good and would come and discuss their situation.