Do Polish universities protect lecturers? Support system analysis
« We, lecturers, nobody taught or teaches how to deal with problematic people, or how to react in difficult situations, » says an anonymous lecturer at the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw in an interview with « Newsweek ».
Lecturers do not know where to seek help in crisis situations at Polish universities
Her words shed light on the problem that many are struggling with academic staff In Poland: no procedures and preparation for dealing with difficult situations at the university.
The interlocutor emphasizes that over a dozen or so years of her work she was dealing with students who clearly needed help, but the support system at the university practically does not exist.
« Even if someone behaved strangely, nobody would do anything about it. At our faculty, nobody is concerned about such things » – he adds.
The lecturer draws attention to the lack of clear guidelines regarding the proceedings in crisis situations.
« There are no procedures what to do at such a moment. Nobody cares about our safety, » he adds in an interview with Newsweek.
He points out that even if she noticed disturbing behavior in students, he doesn’t know who she could report it to.
« I could go to security, but our bodyguards are more porters. We don’t know how to behave in contact with atypical people. Nobody told me what to do when I see a student striking the student with a textbook that has a ticker that is probably shaking from stress » – he explains.
« Sometimes it happened that after the exam, the student aggressively negotiated the assessment and did not want to leave the room » – he recalls situations in which she felt threatened.
The words of the lecturer gain special significance in the context of tragic events that took place on May 7 at the campus of the University of Warsaw. Around 18.40 A third-year student of law, 22-year-old Mieszko R., attacked an ax employee of a university who died on the spot, and seriously wounded a security guard. The prosecutor’s office informedthat the man heard three allegations: murder, attempted murder and insulting the corpse of a murdered woman.
The interlocutor « Newsweek » admits that Mieszko R. did not stand out in class.
« He did not bother, he was not aggressive, he behaved normally, he was communicative and calm, » he says.
He adds, however, that even if his behavior was concerned, no action would be taken.
« The idea for difficult, problematic students is to simply pass them, » he says bitterly in an interview with Newsweek.
Tragic events at University of Warsaw They pay attention to a broader problem, which is the lack of preparation of Polish universities to deal with crisis situations. The lecturer emphasizes that the trainings organized by universities are voluntary and often take place during classes, which means that many employees do not participate in them.
