Just what you don't need. Stay safe. I hope the police are doing something about it.

I knew you'd do all the right things. You're doing what gives you purpose and that's a very good thing that you then pass it on to others. The restraining order that Doo suggests is another great idea. Rewards are coming to your side already...the student who cried and your friends here. No too shabby. ?Angryboy will have do go and stay away...after things he has done. You do what you need to do for your own sake.
Good things gravitate to you for all the good things you say and do. Best to you.:)

School had better have a policy. Can security stay the whole class?

https://www.mosaicmethod.com/

Brain farting here. Ply gas mask, if needed.

Inside my strictly personal skin, over the course of dealing with my own rage --rage enough to frighten gentle academic types (amends needed)-- I have come to believe that anger is *just* fear, all grown-up. Rage is anger out of control. Is it possible that teaching about the anger phase of grieving while under the influence of fear might lead to extra insight? I wonder often how the Elizabeth Kubler Ross book has remained the reigning bible on grieving since 1969. Not to diminish her brilliance, but when I read about her, I don't get the impression she thought her work was ready for an international altar.

Brain fart over. It is now safe to remove gas mask.

Continued support while you work it through, muji. Feed the good stuff and stay brave in the rest.

Yeah, I question Kubler Ross, too, arfie, I agree. There's new research on grief recently I'd like to get to that I have waiting in the wings, some cool stuff about the role of humor I read about in December. Since my hobby is being a stand up comedy fan (just bought a ticket to see comedian Marc Maron live) I'm hoping we can get to that. Of course, first there's a need to put Kubler Ross out there for debate in class, and the need to have a safe class for debate. Sigh.

Thanks, everybody, for the wishes for a safe class today. For me personally the issue is the struggle with my own PTSD triggering hypervigilance. When those alarm bells and sirens are triggered in my head, it's hard to concentrate on anything else, much less be a leader. I'm kind of proud that I did get those alarms to turn off so I could concentrate on something else last night, thought it took until 8pm. Again, sigh.

I find myself looking forward to Spring Break already. It starts March 11th. That's a month from this coming Saturday and I'm off to Mexico again. Yay.

Big hug for you muji..... This is horrible.... It might be worth talking to the police and they in turn can have a firm talk to this student.... I can't imagine a security guard in reality could do much if this student decided to act out on his aggression..... Bless you.....xo

This is terrible. At the university where I worked as Associate Vice President a threatening e-mail like that would be immediate expulsion with no chance to return. It was a zero tolerance policy. I'm glad you'll have an escort tomorrow but I'm worried about the future. Look how long it took him to react. Please be vigilant and very careful. Hate to even say it. It's not fair but it is what it is. Don't put yourself in a situation where you are alone even if it means taking work home. During my tenure at the university we had three shootings. All took place while faculty was alone. Be aware. Not trying to scare you just educate you.

Thanks, everybody. I'm home safe and sound. :-)

It did turn out that our new community college chief of security knew the young man who was threatening me, and so he headed him off before my class. I am SO relieved!! I just taught class and went home, I didn't try to find out anything more. That'll be for tomorrow. Like I said, for me personally the issue with this sort of thing is the struggle with my own PTSD triggering hypervigilance.

When those alarm bells and sirens are triggered in my head, it's hard to concentrate on anything else. That's why I missed an appointment I made with a different student to tutor her today--I just can't concentrate. She's a good student, though, and I sent her an apology, she'll be ok and will reschedule. If that's all that happened after being threatened, that's a win in my book.

Zoe, that's so cool that you were an Associate Vice President at a university! Wish you were my Assoc. VP. Having someone in high office who understood PTSD personally would be amazing.

Sorry there were 3 shootings at your university. We had a case of arson in our college housing yesterday. A young woman got angry that her boyfriend cheated on her, so she set his clothes on fire in the college apartment complex and caught the building on fire. Me, I've only had a tire slashed once this semester, and a year ago a student poured acid on the hood of my car.

A colleague who teaches business was stabbed by a young woman while sitting at his office desk, though. He survived but it was awful. She got an insanity plea. We have another young woman in the city jail for stabbing her boyfriend. She's facing an attempted murder charge, so we'll see.

I'm staying as careful as I can be. My boss, security, my Distance Learning aide, my colleagues, and a lot of other people know about the student's threat. I'll see if security has anything to tell me tomorrow. TGIF, that's for sure.

I don't question Elizabeth Kubler Ross. I hold her as a genius. Genius enough to know an honest work is never finished. Only abandoned. I would like to see her work developed further, not discredited. Many a great scientist has said something to the effect of, "If I can see far, it is because I am standing on the shoulders of giants." She is a giant with strong shoulders. Worthy of developing.

Glad your tools got you through a tough day. I'll count that as a "Win," with you. Anybody can do the easy days. Congratulations. Well done.

I've never heard of this kind of class but sounds really interesting, maybe something I'd like to take. That's rough that some p*ssed off student took his failure out on you. My husband teaches college chemistry and has had that happen before. I'm sure you both could share some interesting stories. It amazes me how people can blame other for their stupid behavior and even worse, threaten to do harm to them. I pray he comes to his senses! Good for the Marine! We never say "ex" btw. Once a Marine always a Marine :). Yup, we're brain damaged I mean brashwashed err I mean loyal for life!

Thanks, arfie. I love teaching Kubler Ross. Her 5 stages became so widespread that there's even a Robot Chicken cartoon of them, which goes along with my schtick about contemporary research into the role of humor in processing grief. Not denial humor, but engaged humor. My students get a kick out of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_Z3lmidmrY

Blue, thanks for the tip on never saying "ex" about a Marine. I've got 2 wonderful Semper Fi guys in these classes right now, and I love them. I can't wait to see the one today that stayed after class Wed. and had that chat with me that was so earnest that he allowed tears to rise to his eyes. They're tough as nails but gentle men, too.

Relax for the weekend and treat yourself to something. You've earned it. Being VP just meant I had a bigger target on my back. Couldn't tell you the number of cars I went through. How many time the locks changed on the house, The burglar alarm systems upgraded. There was always some threat to avoid. I'm surprised it took so long for my PTSD to kick into high gear.=-

Thanks, Zoe. The door slammer student was headed off by security from class yesterday, but he did try going over my head to administration--to one of you folks up at a higher level. He told one of them a whopper: that he'd been in the course all of this semester and had been a model student and that I had just suddenly insulted him and that's why he walked out and slammed my classroom door.

In fact, he'd been in my class last semester until he cut every class from midterm on. He just appeared out of nowhere on Tuesday and demanded to be able to take last semester's tests now in this semester.The administrator asked for attendance records to see if he had come to class, which was odd to me since he wasn't enrolled.

I could oblige, though, since I take attendance that I can't manipulate by having students sign in. I was able to submit the whole semester's class by class sign in sheets with his signature only on the one from the day he appeared unannounced on Tuesday and left slamming the door.

I think he'll make noise, but said signature documentation is likely to be the end of any actions over my head he attempts to initiate. Which leads me to marvel at the chutzpah of his making claims I could disprove so clearly in black and white. I'm sure, though, that you could regale me with even taller tales told to you as a university VP with deep, urgent, earnestness, innocent eyes, and a straight face.

I didn't realize from my vantage point in the classroom how much of a bigger target you university VP's are: cars, lock changes, burglar alarm systems. Yikes.

Thanks for sharing that so that once again I could say here that I'm not alone when my PTSD gets rattled. Much support back to you.

Now I'll treat myself to something this weekend, just as you say. Yeah. :-)