2 days ago
State Police train higher education leaders to combat hate, promote positive campus culture
The training came as colleges across Massachusetts will welcome students back to campus in the fall from all over the world. International students
It also comes after a couple of years of unrest on public and private university campuses.
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Protests over the Israel-Gaza war, and in some cases, pro-Palestinian
The training was designed to deepen 'understanding of hate crimes, bias incidents, harassment, vandalism, direct threats, and conflict,' with an eye toward prevention and appropriate response, a State Police said in a statement Monday.
Gov. Maura Healey said she is grateful for the leadership of the Massachusetts State Police to enhance public safety on campuses, prevent hate and build a positive environment for everyone.'
Healey's administration has awarded $24.5 million in hate crime prevention grants through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, the statement said.
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The grants are to support or expand programs that help campuses 'reduce incidents of bias in schools,' according to the statement.
The State Police program was designed with the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators and Rutgers University Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience.
The training addressed intimidation, terroristic threats, harassment, and violence toward students and faculty,
and ensured
that institutions understand their legal reporting responsibilities under federal law, according to the statement.
The programs also provided tools for formulating strategies to protect victims from vulnerable communities along with prevention measures for achieving and maintaining a 'positive campus culture,' according to the State Police.
Stacey Lloyd, chief of police and director of public safety at the Boston campus of the University of Massachusetts, said involvement in the initiative 'means actively contributing to a culture of trust, safety, and mutual respect, which is essential for promoting an inclusive and secure environment on campuses.'
Tonya Alanez can be reached at
