Staying Connected:
Laurentian response to campus security issues, natural disasters
and national or international emergencies.
This site will post information about most recent alerts
or emergency situations.
Student Found Safe
October 11, 11:20 a.m.
Tegh Kapur '09 was found safe this morning and is fine. Tegh had been reported missing at 4:00 a.m. by his father. St. Lawrence Security and Canton Village Police began an immediate search.
Campus Safety Alert
To: The St. Lawrence Community
From: Director of Security and Safety Patrick Gagnon
Date: October 4, 2008
An off-campus sexual assault has been reported by a St. Lawrence student. Because of the circumstances and because the survivor does not know the identity of her assailant, we are issuing a campus safety alert.
At approximately midnight, a student reported walking on Miner Street when a small, black pick-up truck pulled up beside her and stopped. The driver, a man, about 20 years old, 6 feet tall, with “shaggy brown hair and scruffy facial hair” wearing a grey sweatshirt got out of the truck. The student reported being punched and touched inappropriately. The passenger of the truck, a man with short light-colored hair, remained inside the truck cab. The student was able to return to campus, and friends called the report to Canton Police and Safety and Security.
After the assault was reported, our Advocates Program staff responded. The student was offered all possible services. Security and Safety staff are investigating and seek your assistance if you have any information that could help identify the assailants. Please call my office at 229-5555.
The St. Lawrence Advocates are trained faculty, staff and students who can help with emotional support, legal or campus judicial advice, hospital care or information about options available for any of these needs. Katie Protos coordinates our Advocates Program and may be contacted at x5122. A 24-hour hotline is available through 244-5466, and the Security and Safety office is staffed hours a day, seven days a week at x5555.
Kenya Semester Update
To: The St. Lawrence Community
FROM: Assis Malaquias, Associate Dean of International and Intercultural Studies
DATE: 24 March 2008
RE: Back to Kenya
In light of a number of positive developments, we have decided to resume normal operations of our academic programs in Kenya, beginning with the Summer Program 2008.
Earlier this semester, we decided to cancel our Spring 2008 Kenya Semester Program. When we made that decision the University also established several conditions for resuming the program: subsiding violence, engagement by Kenya’s political leaders in discussions to resolve their disputes, and the lifting of governmental advisories from the United States and other countries against all but essential travel. We believe that these conditions have been met. The overall political climate and security situation on the ground have improved dramatically from the post-election violence. Domestic and international pressure encouraged the opposing sides to agree on a power-sharing framework, leading to a de-escalation of political tension and a reduction in violence. Partly as a result, several countries (including Canada, the U.K., and the U.S.) have revised their travel advisories for Kenya.
Students who planned to attend our Spring Semester Kenya Program have had priority placement in the Summer and Fall programs. Please contact the International and Intercultural Studies Office (229-5991) if you have specific questions about the Kenya Program.
Update
from
Police
To: The St. Lawrence University Community
From: Pat Gagnon, director of safety and security
Date: March 5, 2008
Subject: Suspect Apprehended
Earlier this week, the campus was notified of a search by law enforcement
authorities for Seth Barnum, for whom an arrest warrant had been issued.
Mr. Barnum was apprehended today, Wednesday, March 5, by investigators
from the St. Lawrence County Sheriff's department, on the Ellis Road
in the town of Potsdam. He is now in custody.
Security Notice from Canton Village Police
From: Pat Gagnon, Director of Security and Safety
Date: March 2, 2008
Canton Village Police have notified Security that they are searching for
Seth Barnum, 34, who had served time in county jail, had been released
from county jail, and for whom a new warrant for arrest was issued and
was to be carried out today.
Barnum was last seen in Canton today wearing a red jacket and khaki
pants at the Kunoco station on Route 27 (south of campus on outer Park
Street). He has brown hair. No further description was provided
to us.
Canton Police have not indicated to us that they consider Mr. Barnum to be a threat, but share this information with us as a precaution.
If you see someone matching Mr. Barnum's description, do not approach him yourself, but contact Security at x5555 or Canton Village Police at 911.
Security Update
From: Joseph Tolliver, Vice President and
Dean of Student Life
Date: February 21, 2008
On Monday we issued a security alert informing the community that a sexual assault was reported to have been committed during the early morning hours of February 10th. As a follow up to that alert, I am writing to provide an update on that alert and to summarize the four sexual assault reports we have received during this academic year. The purpose for offering this information is threefold: first and foremost, in situations in which community members are or may be in danger, public and personal safety is increased by the dissemination of factual information. Second and equally important when the identities of the perpetrators of such serious and dangerous crimes as rape and sexual assault are unknown, we need community awareness and vigilance to help in the investigation. Finally, it is always important to outline the steps that we have taken to improve and to increase public and personal safety so that members of our community know that we are doing our best to respond.
Incident response update:
The investigation of the February 10th sexual assault report is ongoing. The assault survivor has described the assault to the Director of Security, the Coordinator of the Advocates program and also to an Investigator from the Canton Police Department. As you may recall, after the October 27th attempted assault, we increased the number of University security personnel and patrols. As a result of this latest incident, we have again increased the number of personnel and security patrols the University deploys during the evening and weekend hours. Additionally, we have begun to utilize video and other information collection devices at several locations in order to increase our security force and presence. A variety of resources are available to members of our community, and we urge everyone to become familiar with them.
*Emergency blue-light phones, which provide direct contact to Security and Safety, located throughout campus.
*"Safe walks," available upon request by contacting Security and Safety.
*Information about crime prevention and emergency services on the Security and Safety Web site.
*Information about preventing acts of sexual violence, including sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking, and information on support for survivors of such acts, on the Advocates Program Web site.
*Professional services provided by the staff of the Diana B. Torrey '82 Health and Counseling Center, 76 Park Street, detailed on the center's Web site.
*Professional crisis intervention and advocacy services by the staff of CAVA, located at 20 East Main Street, detailed on their
website.
As always, emergency response is also available to anyone by dialing 911, for contact with local law enforcement, fire and rescue personnel. Additionally, I am including here below, advice and information which several St Lawrence University faculty members have offered or will offer for discussion during their upcoming classes --We are very much aware that these recommendations may have a disparate impact on female students. Although we remain committed to educating our students in a way that fosters gender equality and will hopefully help us to create a society where both women and men do not have to worry about sexual assault, these very real incidents over the past months makes us feel that it is worth offering and restating this advice. We encourage men to follow these guidelines as well, both because men are also vulnerable to crime and because following these guidelines can help men to gain a greater appreciation of the costs that women incur because of the reality that they are more likely to be sexually assaulted in our society!
*Avoid walking on your own at night.
*Inform someone of your plans when you go out, and check in with your cell phone later.
*Avoid confrontation.
*Report suspicious behavior.
Compiled information about the four incidents of sexual assault reported to University Officials this academic year:
In total, four instances of sexual assault have been reported to have been perpetrated on four individual female student members of the St Lawrence University community by an unknown male or by unknown number of males. All four assaults were reported to have taken place on campus, three within close proximity to each other. All four assaults were reported to have occurred on a weekend, Friday or Saturday night near or after 11pm. The dates of these reported assaults were Friday, September 21; Friday, October 27; Saturday, December 9; and Saturday night/ Sunday morning February 9/10.
Based upon the facts of and nature of the first incident of sexual assault (September 21, 2007) we do not believe that the alleged assailant was involved in the three subsequent attacks.. The assailant in the first case was a non- student guest who was identified several days after the assault and reported to the local police department and district attorney. That assault case is currently in the criminal court system.
During the second incident (October 27) which was reported to have taken place at 11pm near the "Quad", the victim reported that she was pushed to the ground and had portions of her clothes torn away in an attempted sexual assault by three unknown white males of college age (20 to 23 years) 5'10' tall , medium build, brown or dark brown hair. No words or threats were reported to have been uttered or exchanged during the incident. After a struggle on the ground, all three assailants fled.
The third victim (December 9th) reported that she was walking from the Townhouses towards Rebert and Lee when she heard an unknown male call out her nickname. He then attempted to push her to the ground and remove her pants. He was described as a white male of college age 6'3" tall, medium build with dark or brown hair. The victim was able to kick and injure the assailant who then fled. No additional words were exchanged.
Finally, the fourth assault incident--the subject of our Monday Security Alert-- was reported to have occurred at approximately 3:30am on February 10. The report was made at 11:45pm on February 17. The victim reported that she was walking through Rebert Hall on her way back to her room from Dean Eaton Hall. As the Alert stated, "The assault was reported to have occurred in the recycling building adjacent to Rebert Hall. The assailant is described as a white male, approximately 5’ 10” tall and 180 pounds. He was wearing sweatpants, a hooded sweatshirt and a hat that had long ear flaps."
We believe that this aggregated information is valuable because it reminds us of the locations of the assaults, the dates and times the incidents were reported to have occurred and provides the descriptions of the assailants. We have shared this information with the Canton and Potsdam Police Departments as well as with the Offices of Public Safety and Security at SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Canton and Clarkson University. We ask that any and all individuals who may have information or knowledge about any of the four assaults outlined here or any additional assaults to contact The Office of Security and Safety and the Canton Police Department as soon as possible.
Open discussion with students, faculty and staff:
On Monday the 25th of February, at 2pm we will hold an open discussion on this very same information in the Winston Room in the Student Center. I, in conjunction with Katie Protos, Director of the Advocates program, Rance Davis, the Associate Dean of Student Life and Patrick Gagnon, Director of Security and Safety, will moderate the discussion.
Security Alert
From: Patrick Gagnon, Director of Security and Safety
Date: February 18, 2008
At 11:40 p.m. February 17, a St. Lawrence student reported to Security that she had been sexually assaulted at 3:30 a.m., Sunday, February 10. The student did not know her assailant.
The assault was reported to have occurred in the recycling building adjacent to Rebert Hall. The assailant is described as a white male, approximately 5’ 10” tall and 180 pounds. At the time, he was wearing sweatpants, a hooded sweatshirt and a hat that had long ear flaps. The survivor was able to leave the recycling building and return to her residence hall room.
After reporting this assault to Security, the survivor made a report to the Canton Village Police; both St. Lawrence Security and Canton Police will investigate and seek assistance if you recall seeing a person matching the assailant’s description on the night of February 10. Please call my office at 229-5555 or call Canton Police at 911.
Because of the circumstances reported, I stress that as a community and as individuals, we must take measures to raise awareness about and prevent acts of violence. I’d like to remind you that the Advocates Web site has a great deal of information sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking, information on support for survivors of such acts and an excellent Personalized Safety Plan guide. A variety of campus resources is available to you at any time. They include:
- Emergency blue-light phones, which provide direct contact to Security and Safety, located throughout campus.
- "Safe walks," available upon request by contacting Security and Safety.
- Information about crime prevention and emergency services on the Security and Safety Web site.
- Professional services provided by the staff of the Diana B. Torrey '82 Health and Counseling Center, 76 Park Street, detailed on the center's Web site.
As always, emergency response is also available to anyone by dialing 911, for contact with local law enforcement, fire and rescue personnel.
Kenya Semester Update: January 18, 2008
To: The St. Lawrence Community
From: Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs Valerie D. Lehr
Date: January 18, 2008
Subject: Kenya Program Status
This afternoon we telephoned the students who had planned to depart for our Kenya Semester program next week to tell them we have decided to cancel the program for Spring 2008. There are two reasons that we reached this decision. Based on all we have heard from our sources in Kenya, we feel the continuing instability, lack of progress on political reconciliation, and threats of economic boycotts make us increasingly uneasy about student safety. Providing for student safety might mean imposing the kind of restrictions on their academic experience that would make it much less valuable than they deserve.
This was a very difficult decision, one we hoped we would not have to make because we believe so passionately in the value of the Kenya Semester. Our staff in Kenya have been absolutely extraordinary in their devotion to their work and in their preparations for our students in this uncertain and volatile situation. We are assuring the staff in Kenya that they will be employed by St. Lawrence even with the program’s cancellation for this semester. And we continue to plan to offer programs in Kenya this summer and next fall.
Our staff in International and Intercultural Studies is working with each of the students to help them plan for a spring semester on campus, and Associate Dean of Academic Advising Bob Thacker will reach out to faculty in the next two days to make arrangements for student registration for spring classes. We have guaranteed housing for the students, and Residence Life will work with each student to discuss options.
I thank all my colleagues, within the division of Academic Affairs and throughout the campus, who generously will offer extra time and effort this weekend and next week to make sure the students who return to campus will be welcomed warmly, in best St. Lawrence tradition.
Political Protests in Kenya: January 9, 2008
From Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs Valerie D. Lehr to students enrolled in the Kenya Semester Spring 2008 Program:
Thanks to many sources, both official and informal, informing our discussions, we have decided that the Kenya Semester program should proceed this semester, with student departure on January 24, and program orientation beginning January 26. We feel particularly fortunate that, in addition to the Program staff who live in Kenya, Assis Malaquias, Associate Dean, International and Intercultural Studies, and Celia Nyamweru, Professor of Anthropology, are in Kenya currently and working to assess the situation and make plans. They, with faculty in Kenya, have developed an alternative schedule, with some changes in the academic components, that fulfills the objectives of the program that you and we trust to be so valuable. We also have further developed contingency plans with this situation in mind.Last week, we cited several conditions that we believed must be met for us to proceed with the program, whether in its original form or modified in some ways. While the situation in Kenya remains fluid, our sources tell us that violence has subsided in the areas of the nation where students would live and study. People in these areas are experiencing calm and routine rhythms of life. Kenyan political leadership want to resolve their disputes, and though as yet have not found the solutions, the continued presence of diplomats from the international community gives us hope that a resolution will occur. The United States is not warning, and in fact, has not warned, against unnecessary travel to Kenya. Though the Canadian and British departments of state retain that advisory, we feel confident, again through our extensive discussions, that the US position is a reasonable one, particularly given that our students will not be traveling freely around the country and the program will continue to assess how it can best protect our students.You will receive a specific schedule in the next few days; we can tell you now that the rural home stays will shift to a different location, you will have no mid-semester break, no possibilities for work, study or visits to informal settlements; and you can expect interruption or change to your independent study component. You also must be aware that because the political climate is unpredictable, we reserve the right and have the responsibility to decide before January 24 that the program cannot proceed (and you may return to campus if that is our decision), that you may be confined to the study compound for periods of time if your security is at risk, and that we may evacuate you at any time during the semester if we believe that is the best course. If you are evacuated, we will make every effort to bring all of you to campus and develop an alternative course on Kenya so you can complete your semester’s progress. Nancy Pierce has asked you to send your paper plane tickets via Fed Ex or Express Mail to the AAA Travel Agent:
AAA Western & Central New York
Attn: Ms. Terry Taney
1284 Dryden Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
phone: 607 257 2515
If you haven’t done this already, you must do so today so your tickets can be changed. You will incur a $175 fee from the airline for the change.We have attached a form that must be signed by each student and a parent/guardian, acknowledging your understanding of the heightened risks of enrolling in the Kenya Semester and the consequences of those risks. Please fax this form to 315-229-5989 by January 11 to hold your place in the program. If you decide you do not wish to enroll in the Kenya Semester, you may return to campus for the spring and your advisor will develop a schedule with you. Please advise Nancy Pierce at 315-229-5991 by January 11 if you decide not to enroll.This memo is focused on the security issues and risks, but I want to end with thanks. So many of you have expressed confidence in St. Lawrence University staff on campus and in Kenya to make a wise decision and we thank you for that confidence. I share your trust in our faculty and staff who have led our program so effectively for many years and whose expertise and insight have been invaluable to us, and I have faith in you, our students, who seek to have a transforming experience and are willing to adapt and adjust as you learn about and appreciate the Kenyan people, environment, government, educational systems and more. We know that students and faculty will work together as well as they always do, and that the resulting experience will be educationally powerful.
For specific US State Department information about Kenya in January 2008,
visit this page.
Political Protests in Kenya: January 3, 2008
From Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs Valerie D. Lehr: Through constant contact with our faculty in Kenya and with governmental sources here and abroad, we continue to be concerned about your safety for the spring semester. We know that the climate in Kenya is uncertain, but share hope with our Kenyan colleagues that the situation will calm. It is clear to us that even if we decide that it is safe enough to run the program this semester, elements of the program will need to be changed. It is, for example, unlikely that we would be able to do the rural home stay.
We will make a decision about the status of the Spring 2008 Kenya Semester on Wednesday, January 9. There are several conditions that must be met for us to proceed with the program:
*Violence in Kenya must subside.
*Political leadership must have begun discussions for resolving their disputes.
*Governmental advisories from the United States and other nations advising against "all but essential travel" (British Foreign Office Advisory, 1/3/08) to Kenya must be lifted. Unless these conditions are met by January 9, we will cancel the Spring 2008 Kenya Semester program. If the program does continue, your departure will be delayed, so you should not plan to travel on January 10. We advise you to do nothing at this time about your airline tickets or other travel arrangements, as we will have more to share after next week’s decision. Be sure to check your email on January 9, as you will have to make changes on that day.
For St. Lawrence students: We will alert your academic advisors so you and they can develop a schedule for the semester and we are working on housing should you return to campus this spring.We are investigating the best alternative options for a St. Lawrence academic experience in Kenya Summer 2008 or Fall 2008, if we decide that Spring 2008 must be cancelled. If we do cancel the program for the Spring, all students admitted for this semester will have the first priority for future study, if conditions change enough so that we can run academic programs. Given the uncertainty and the likely changes to the program even if it runs, we understand that some of you may wish to withdraw from the Kenya Program now. If you do, we will refund your deposit and we will still give you priority for future opportunities. I realize each of you may have specific questions, many of which will be answered next week after we gather more information and options. Until then, if you need help, I’ll ask you to work with Director of Off-Campus Programs Nancy Pierce.
For specific US State Department information about Kenya in January 2008, visit this page.
Political Protests in Kenya: January 2, 2008
St. Lawrence University staff on campus and at our Kenya program continue to assess the post-election unrest in that nation. We anticipate significant discussions and events scheduled in Kenya tomorrow (Thursday, January 3). We will then determine the best course of action. SLU staff will be in touch via email on January 3, 2008 with the students planning to enroll in the spring semester Kenya program.
Related Links
Pandemic Flu
Campus Emergency Planning
Past Alerts
Campus Safety Alerts Fall 2007
No St. Lawrence students were affected by the bombings in Nairobi, Kenya, June 11, 2007
Summer 2006 thwarted terrorist attacks on
planes from Great Britain
Unrest in France
London Subway Bombing
Hurricane Katrina
Earthquake in Southeast Asia
Last Update: January 2008
