CASE STUDY: CYBERBULLYINGEric R. Young, Taylor Police, and Deven Siesel

Facts of the Case

Panorama College Information Ariana’s Campus Involvement Kathy’s Campus Involvement A Facebook page was created displaying

Kathy in a very poor image and was created at the same time Ariana was on Facebook as well as several other students

Kathy has been seeing a counselor regularly for unstable emotional issues

Facts cont.

Kathy and Ariana’s past relationship Public and private disputes over the last several

days Ariana told Matt that she documented a party

involving Kathy and the others causing retaliation, BSA is in a rift which is causing the Black population on campus to be deeply affected

Ariana’s parents are major donors of the institution Lawyers are involved on both sides The college president has been notified of this

situation

Key Actors

Ariana Jackson – Black Student Association President.

Kathy Shapiro – Black Student Association Treasurer.  

Matt Millman – Director of Residential Education Sharon Rodriguez – Resident Director Charlotte Patterson – Director of Student Activities Madelyn Caruso – Dean of Students Brian Bennington – Campus Psychologist Paul Lee – Director of Information Technology

Immediate & Short Term Decision Issues

Immediate: Is Kathy in an acceptable mental condition? Should Ariana be on suspension from her

position before the conduct process occurs? What information is relevant to present to

supervisor during the meeting tomorrow?Short Term: What conduct actions should be taken? What steps should be taken to put out this situation prior to the conduct process?

Long Term Decision Issues

Long Term: Should a social media policy be added to the university code of conduct?

What work should be done to reestablish the Black community on campus?

Additional Information Needed Double check the party documentation Who actually created the webpage Who has been harassing Ariana at meetings Are lawyers permitted in the hearing process under

institutional rules? What is the mission of the student conduct process? Is there a social media policy within the student

code of conduct? History of Ariana’s and Kathy’s relationship Precedent of harassment cases on campus Matt’s tenure/experiences at the institution

Relevant Theories

Gilligan’s Moral Development Josselson’s Identity Development Sanford’s Challenge and Support Model Processual Leadership Theory Social Change Model Professional Ethics Jacoby’s SPAR Model FERPA

Alternative Solution #1 and Theory

Concede to external and internal pressures No judicial process- only developmental

conversations

Ethic of Care

Pros and Cons #1

Pros: Students are happy Donors happy President not upset

with you Keep a good staff

member Issue solved quickly

Lack of development potential

Lack of consequences for students

No incentive to change behaviors

Pros Cons

Alternative Solution #2 and Theory Hold the case until all information is

discovered; utilize Restorative Justice Room change for each student No contact directive ordered for the two,

including BSA meetings

Ethic of Care Processual Leadership Theory FERPA Social Change Model

Pros and Cons #2

Potential for student development

Students work it out through a civil process

No lawyers Keep donors Student’s voices heard

and represented to administration

Process is longer Pressure from parents

and other administrators

Students lose potential support systems

Parents withdraw students

Other students continue to fuel the fire and students ignore the no contact directive

Pros Cons

Alternative Solution #3 and Theory Provide a workshop for members of BSA

on handling controversy with civility.

Ethic of Care Challenge and Support Model Gilligan’s Moral Development Social Change Model

Pros and Cons #3

Provides students with resources

Allows them to better handle situations like this in the future without outside aid

Allows all members to have an educational experience

Reunites the black student population on campus

Potential backlash from the group members not involved

Students do not attend, therefore do not get the benefits

Pros Cons

Alternative Solution #4 and Theory

Develop and hold a “Cyber bullying Workshop” With BSA Open to everyone

Josselson’s Identity Development Gilligan’s Moral Development Social Change Model

Pros and Cons #4

Provides students with resources

Helps them to better handle situations like this in the future without outside aid

Allows all members to have an educational experience

Reunites the black student population on campus

Potential backlash from the group members not involved

Students do not attend, therefore do not get the benefits

Pros Cons

Alternative Solution #5 and Theory Add a no tolerance social media policy to

the University Code of Conduct with strict guidelines and harsh punishments.

Best Practices Ethic of Justice

Pros and Cons #5

Deters students from cyber bullying

Easy to follow protocol should cyber bullying take place

May prevent future events

Campus community may not support the harshness of the policy

Administrators may not support and therefore allow its creation

Pros Cons

Alternative Solution #6 and Theory Reach out to the Black Community on

campus and see what their needs and wants are to establish a strong relationship with the university and their members. Other minority groups on campus as well?

Challenge and Support Ethic of Care Josselson

Pros and Cons #6

Reunites Black Community

Strengthens BSA Potentially brings

Kathy and Ariana back together

Shows campus commitment to diversity and inclusion

Other minority groups on campus may feel neglected

Pros Cons

Alternative Solution #7 and Theory Advisor Training Session

Challenge and Support (How-To) Social Change Model

Pros and Cons #7

Gives advisor resources to work with the students and how handle these types of situations and how to interact with group members

Potentially lose advisors that do not want to or have the time for the training

Pros Cons

Alternative Solution #8 and Theory Proceed with the conduct process Students each violated portions of the

student code of conduct; they should be sanctioned.

Professional Ethics Gilligan’s Moral Development Josselson’s Identity Development

Pros and Cons #8

Everything handled fairly

Conclusion derived from facts

Students have opportunity to learn from sanctions

Other students see this as an example

Lose angry donors President upset with

you Lose a good staff

member Lose a student to

transfer process Send a student into

deeper depression

Pros Cons

Plan of Action (Immediate)

Move both girls into new resident halls. Establish a “no contact” directive ordered for the two, including BSA meetings.

Continue to acquire all the facts of the case.

Plan of Action (Short)

Develop and hold a “Cyber bullying Workshop” to help inform, gain awareness and help prevent cyber bullying in the future. (See Handout)

Conduct an advisor training on organizational development

Hold formal conduct meetings with each of the students and assign sanctions

Plan of Action (Long)

Add a no tolerance social media policy to the University Code of Conduct with strict guidelines and harsh punishments.

Reach out to the various minority student organizations on campus and see what their needs and wants are in order to establish a strong relationship between the university and their members.

References

Alvarez, C. (2009). Controversy with Civility. In Komives, S. R. & Wagner, W. (Eds.), Leadership for a Better World (263-293). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass

Evans, N. J., Forney, D. S., Guido, F. M., Patton, L. D., & Renn, K. A. (2010). Student development in college: Theory, research, and practice (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey- Bass.

Gerzon, M. (2006). Leading through Conflict: How successful leaders transform differences into opportunities. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Press . Retrieved

from: http://hbswk.hbs.edu/archive/5351 Jacoby, B. (1993). Service delivery for a changing student constituency. In M.J.

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Kaplin, W. A., & Lee, B. A. (2009). A legal guide for student affairs professionals. (2nd ed.). New York: Jossey Bass.

Kezar, A.J., Carducci, R., Contreras-McGavin, M. (2006). Rethinking the “L” word in higher education: The revolution in research on leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Shapiro, J.P., & Gross, S.J. (2008). Ethical educational leadership in turbulent times: (Re)Solving Moral Dilemmas. New York: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Stage, F. K., & Hubbard, S. M. (2012). Linking theory to practice: Case studies for working with college students. (3rd ed.). New York: Rutledge.