A Fresno City College student was suspended for the remainder of the spring semester on March 7 for allegedly making a threat on Facebook.
State Center Community College District police received information from an outside source that the FCC student had posted a comment on Facebook that could be perceived as a threat to campus and students’ safety.
In addition to suspension from FCC, the student has also been prohibited from entering other SCCCD campuses.
“The case is still under the investigation, so the student’s name and the nature of the threat can’t be revealed yet,” said SCCCD Police Lieutenant, Richard Gaines. “Although, so far we believe there’s no need to be concerned about campus safety. If there was something really dangerous, we would have notified the campus right away.”
The district police also made sure the comment, which posed a possible threat, was deleted from Facebook. They are also in charge of keeping the student away from all SCCCD campuses.
“I know that we’ve had safety issues and disciplinary issues with students, but it may be the first time for something of this scale,” said Claudia Habib, current academic senate president.
Since FCC has an open campus, the student’s photograph, personal information and address have been passed to police officers to ensure that the student does not come onto school property.
“The faculty members who had the students in their classes also were notified of who the student was,” said Fresno City College English Instructor, Lynn Campbell. “As long as those professors are aware, there is nothing to worry about.”
Interim President, Tony Cantu, and a small group of people including representatives from the district office, are planning to have a meeting next Tuesday to discuss what will be spoken about at an upcoming open forum in which Habib and executive board members will address campus safety issues and policies.
“I’ve been communicating with Tony Cantu about what’s going on and we’re having a meeting to discuss that issue and the larger issue which is ‘What do we do? How do we prepare for those things [student threats] to happen,” said Habib. “The administration of Fresno City College has the safety of the students and the staff and everybody in mind.”
