Monday, May 20th the Peace Islands Institute held its Annual Conference at Rutgers University, New Brunswick.
The theme: Cyber Bullying “Increasing Worry in our Public School System
Speakers
Welcome: Ercan Tozan- Director of Peace Islands Institute
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Nadia Ansary – Psychology Professor – Rider University
Panel 1 – What have we done wrong in our public school program?
• Dr. Joan Rivitz – Division of Civil Rights – Commissioner
• Mr. Lindy Crescitelli- Conflict Resolution Specialist
• Andrew Yeager – NJ state certified School Psychologist and Student Assistance Coordinator, the President of the NJ ASAP
Panel 2 – Disciplinary and Law Enforcement related solutions and actions for Cyber Bullying
• Captain Rampolla – Park Ridge Police Dept -Internet Security Expert/Cyber Bullying
• Dr. Jonathon Golden – Drew University
• Phil Frigm- Supervisory Special Agent Cyber Crime Squad
Panel 3 – Our Common Challenges to shape up our future generations.
• Dr. Stevi Lischin -The Project for Intercultural Development
• Dr. Stuart Green -Director, NJ Coalition for Bullying Awareness and Prevention
PANEL 1 DISCUSSIONS
1.) Andrew Yeager –President of ASAP-NJ
• What schools are doing well (and what needs to improve)
• How bullying SHOULD be addressed:
o Classroom infusion lessons
o School policies and procedures (including effective reporting and monitoring)
o Counseling approaches
o Community / parent training
• Recommendations
2.) Mr. Lindy Crescitelli – Conflict Resolution Specialist
Mr. Lindy P. Crescitelli addresed the topic of ‘bullying and cyber-bullying’ by presenting accounts of what is ineffective in addressing these critical issues and what can be done that has actually proven to be most effective. Mr. Crescitelli discussed the broad topic of the current way bullying and cyber-bullying is being addressed in our society and the ramifications of ineffective responses. He shared some very effective bullying solutions, tactics and skill building responses that they use in the “Stand Up & Lead!” Initiative to inform and train young people (students), adults (parents/families), and school staff in what they call a ‘Whole-School Community Approach.’
3.) Dr. Joan Rivitz – Commissioner- Division of Civil Rights
Spoke on the NJ Law Against Discrimination and the LW v Toms River bullying case. This case was the catalyst for the NJ Department of Education’s edict to all NJ Public School Districts to have a bullying policy in place. She mentioned this from a civil rights point of view stressing the inadequacies that resulted as well as positive outcomes and suggestions for further improvement.
PANEL 2 DISCUSSIONS
1.)Captain Joseph Rampolla of Park Ridge Police Dept
• He discussed the emerging technologies and how they can be used to harass, intimidate, and bully others.
• * Latest trends in social networking platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, ooVoo, Snapchat, and more, that intertwine with HIB actions.
• * Recent cases that focus on the dynamics of victimization, specifically looking at individual and social after-effects. These cases reveal the destructive path created by perpetrators that spread virally through technology.
• * Discussed preventative and intervention strategies to thwart HIB in our communities.
2.) Dr. Jonathon Golden – Drew University Center on Religion, Culture & Conflict
Throughout human history, as each new medium of communication emerges, it is quickly put to use for both ill and good. The flow of information – the stories and narratives that inform people’s lives, shape their identities and views about the world around them, and motivate them to action – plays a critical role in how society functions. All media have the power to transform relationships and communities, and this is certainly true of SMS text messaging and the various new social media emerging today.
SMS-based disinformation campaigns, where texters deliberately spread false rumors through bulk SMS messages designed to spread fear and foment conflict, have been increasingly common, particularly in part of the world where SMS is the primary means of mobile communication. Rumors range from reports of political assassination to insinuations that humanitarian food aid is poisoned to threats of cross border attacks by neighboring groups.
The presenter will discuss the current problem as well as ways that technology can be used to leverage mobile text messaging (SMS) as a means for combating hatred and incitement and promoting peaceful communities.
3.) Phil Frigm – Supervisory Special Agent Cyber Crime Squad – FBI
1. Current legislation and use in the realm of computer intrusion investigations
2. Limitations to authorities and how this impacts investigations
3. Current threat landscape and general security principles
4. Issues of privacy and general “best practices” for consideration of use of social media
PANEL 3 DISCUSSIONS
1.) Dr. Stevi Lischin – Specialist in Human Development, Education and intercultural relations
Where to from here?
Some Thoughts From a Family Therapist:
How does the family communicate about Bullying?
How do they talk about and monitor online interactions?
What is the role of the school?
The Students Speak:
Interview of a former H.S. cyber bully.
Interview of a college student cyber bullied by her former boyfriend
College undergraduates offer suggestions
2.) Dr. Stuart Green – Director, NJ Coalition for Bullying Awareness and Prevention
Bullying involves a child being intentionally and repeatedly hurt, physically or psychologically, by others in a relationship characterized by an imbalance of power between the targeted child and those doing harm. The power imbalance may be a function of actual or perceived membership in a minority group, differences in physical or psychological strength, or popularity, or across a wide range of other characteristics and disparities. The power imbalance renders bullying a form of abuse rather than a conflict. Evidence from cross-sectional as well as longitudinal studies indicates that the experience of being chronically bullied as a child – generally defined as bullying occurring at least two to three times per month – causes significant harm, often lasting into adulthood.
Captain Joseph Rampolla concluded the program with some closing remarks.
We as the Peace Islands Institute thank all of our speakers for addressing this very important topic.
Pictures from the event:
