Protests and Demonstrations – On-Demand Training

Dealing with Conflict on Campus

How colleges handle protests matters. Protests and demonstrations have taken on a renewed dynamic in the face of the Middle-East war, and as we get ready to head into an election year, we are certain to see unrest. You must continually work to engage with student groups, offer pro-social options for peaceful demonstration and protest, and minimize the threat and chaos of violence and major disruption on your campus.

Our expert presenters – Grant Azdell, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Randolph-Macon College and Tony Callisto, recently retired Senior Vice President for Safety & Chief Law Enforcement Officer for Syracuse University and the principal consultant with Callisto Consulting – guide you through this critical free speech and safety topic and discuss ways to implement a collaborative team approach to strategic and tactical protest and demonstration management.

While most campus police agencies are trained in responding to demonstrations and protests in a reactive way, an inclusive and collaborative proactive approach to the likelihood of campus protest and demonstration, in partnership with student affairs, academics and other campus units, is both tactically and strategically beneficial. Plan and implement a team approach to managing protest and demonstration for your campus in a strategic and tactical way.

Topics Covered

Gain crucial, actionable takeaways that will help you:

• Instill confidence that your campus can assess and manage protest and demonstration activity and minimize the likelihood of mass violence.
• Create a plan – with a well-trained interdisciplinary team, a proactive communications and interaction strategy, and tactical response – to support peaceful protests, while minimizing the likelihood of violent protest and major campus disruption.
• Support healthy free speech, as well as lawful and peaceful protest, while minimizing the potential for violence and preventing violence from occurring.
• Engage proactive strategies for interacting and engaging with protesters – work with student protestors toward a mutually beneficial relationship/experience.
• Discuss and plan student protester safety plans that will work for your unique campus.
• Identify at least two different approaches to law enforcement/public safety responses to protest and demonstration activities.

Presenters

Tony Callisto recently retired as the Senior Vice President for Safety & Chief Law Enforcement Officer for Syracuse University, managing law enforcement, security, fire safety, environmental health, emergency management, risk management, regulatory compliance, and parking and transit services. He serves as the principal consultant with Callisto Consulting.
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Dr. Grant L. Azdell currently serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, and is a Professor at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia.
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