Part 2 - My Life, and Strange Departure, from ASA College
Threatened With Physical Violence - and ASA Did Nothing!
I got a glimpse of the cowardice and immorality of the ASA administration during a very disturbing incident months before I lost my job there. It was, in fact, the most disturbing incident of my career. I was threatened with physical violence by a student and the police had to be called. In response to this, the ASA administration did virtually nothing about it, leaving me vulnerable to physical harm.
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The details are spelled out in this email I sent the next morning to Lizhi Zhu, Shanthi Konkoth, and Michael Thomas Cain (I have changed the students’ names to “John Smith” and “Jane Doe”). As you will read, the student told me, “I’ll punch your fucking lights out and break your fucking head.”
From: Frank Bella <fbella@asa.edu>
Sent: Thursday, December 5, 2019 8:18 AM
To: Lizhi Zhu <lzhu@asa.edu>
Cc: Dr. Shanthi Konkoth <skonkoth@asa.edu>; Michael Cain <mcain@asa.edu>
Subject: incident - police called due to student threat
[Lizhi Zhu],
Last night student John Smith threatened me with physical violence during my 6pm English Comp II class in Brooklyn. I had to go to the security guard who called the police. The police came to Room 325 to remove the student.
There has been a semester-long pattern on the part of John Smith sitting in the back of the room with his girlfriend, Jane Doe, who is another student in this class. They sit in the back, essentially obscured by the computers, constantly talking with each other, joking, using their cell phones, and logging on the computers, which is forbidden in my class unless I instruct students to do so. They never participate and for all intents and purposes are not even part of the class.
Several weeks ago I spoke to John privately about this. He apologized and said he would not do it again. But this behavior has continued. Other students in the class had previously remarked about John and Jane in the back.
To the extent that this is relevant, both John and Jane are badly failing the class, which is not surprising. They have done virtually no work and have almost all zeroes for all assignments.
Last night, Jane was printing out a bunch of material just before class started. I saw the material and believe it had nothing to do with school and certainly nothing to do with my class. Shortly after class began, both John and Jane were shuffling a bunch of papers and talking and doing things on the computer. I was compelled to walk back there. They had websites up on the computers unrelated to my class. When I told them they must log off the computers they refused. They explicitly stated they were going to keep on doing what they were doing. I told them that they would be marked absent if they continued, as their actions made them not really part of the class. I told them if they wanted to do other stuff they would have to leave and go do it somewhere else. They refused.
At this point, John said, "You need to get the fuck out of here. I'll punch your fucking lights out and break your fucking head." I told John that now the whole class had heard him threaten me with violence and I had to go tell the security guard. John did not get out of his seat but his manner was very menacing. I felt if I had stayed in the room I could have been assaulted. At my request the security guard called the police and they came to the room and made John and Jane leave.
I would add that the remaining students were all very supportive of me and offered their thoughts and support at the end of class.
No teacher should have to tolerate threats of physical violence. At minimum, I request that John be removed from my class. I should not have to teach the class in that kind of atmosphere. I would hope that the school will take this incident seriously and take any other appropriate action.
Thank you.
Frank Bella
When I arrived at Lizhi Zhu’s Manhattan office that morning, he was reading the email. Naturally, he was very distressed. He quickly contacted a few people and we immediately convened a meeting at the office of administrator Lillian Granillo, accompanied by Edward Kufor, who is also an administrator, and the four of us discussed how the incident would be handled. The two options that were discussed were, of course, expulsion of the student, or alternatively, a lengthy suspension, presumably for an entire semester. (Those kinds of threats of violence are in themselves crimes. The two police officers at the scene had told me that I had the right to file a more in-depth report at the station. I told them I would wait to see what my bosses would say).
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What happened next was absolutely shocking: nothing, or maybe, next to nothing. Naturally, I assumed that John Smith would be contacted and told he was immediately suspended indefinitely pending an investigation. Of course, I did not want to go to work with this guy walking the halls. My physical safety was at risk. It is next to incomprehensible that he was not banned from entering the buildings.
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The next day I wanted to know what was going on. I was told that the case was being handled by Maritza Mercado, another high-ranking administrator at ASA. I went to Maritza’s office to see what was happening. Maritza told me that she was assigned the case for about five minutes, and then the case was assigned to Jennifer Ross, the school’s lawyer. Maritza and I had a lengthy conversation about the incident and she expressed her horror also and was totally in agreement with me about the need for something severe, including expulsion. I told her that I feared that the school would go very easy on John Smith because ASA does not want to lose any tuition-paying students. In other words, ASA puts money ahead of teachers’ physical safety. Maritza assured me that was no longer true. She said, “Those days with Alex are over.” (She was referring to the school’s former president, Alex Shchegol, who, according to Maritza, allowed students to get away with all sorts of outrageous behavior that other schools would never tolerate, so as not to lose any money). I was still lacking confidence in ASA’s integrity to handle this properly, but I waited for an update, still wondering if I would run into John Smith in the hallways.
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I also told Maritza that when the cops walked into the room to remove John Smith (who is black) and Jane Doe (who is Hispanic), Jane Doe said out loud, “Oh, this is a white thing.” Of course, that remark is of far less importance than a physical threat of violence, but it speaks to the current politics and how ASA is the cowardly captive of political correctness. Can you imagine what would happen if, for example, a white teacher had referred to students’ unruly behavior as “a black thing”? That teacher, of course, would be fired, dissected in a laboratory, and ostracized, in that order. But when a non-white student refers to calling the police as a “white thing,” ASA puts its head in the sand and ignores it. More than once I brought up this aspect of the incident and every time ASA did not even acknowledge it, let alone do anything about it.
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Later that day, I was told how the situation would be handled: I was told that Lillian Granillo would show up to that very class on Monday to speak to the student. What the fuck? Are you kidding me? In other words, the student was not suspended, would be attending school Thursday, Friday, and Monday. And then Monday night at the time of class, Lillian would show up “to have a talk with him,” as if this were some minor incident.
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I could not believe it. This was incredible, even by ASA standards. I complained vociferously to Lizhi Zhu and Michael Thomas Cain, who was also beside himself. Michael told me that I should not even show up to school if ASA would not protect me by getting rid of this student. Maritza also told me she was shocked at this. I probably should have taken Michael’s advice, but I showed up as usual and kept on teaching. Perhaps in response to my loud complaints (although I have no way of actually knowing), Jennifer Ross contacted me on Monday via email:
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“I’ll punch your fucking lights out and break your fucking head.”
Maritza Mercado, ASA Vice President of Planning and Operations. She handled the case for "five minutes."
From: Jennifer Ross (jross@asa.edu)
Date: 12/09/19 06:28 pm
To: fbella@asa.edu
Cc: lgranillo (lgranillo@asa.edu)
Subject: The threat by a student
Good evening Mr. Bella,
I have received your complaint regarding the student, John Smith. Please note that I have informed security that the student is not permitted on campus unless he speaks with me in the Manhattan campus. I sent him a suspension letter and have since noticed that he shows as "dropped" form all his classes. This was not my doing but apparently of his own as he must have withdrawn. Nonetheless, as he is no longer a student here he has no business on campus unless he speaks with me.
We will continue to investigate Jane Doe’s behavior in your class as well. If you have anything to add regarding Ms. Doe, kindly let me know.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Regards,
Jennifer Ross
In response to this email, I met Jennifer Ross in her office the next day. We discussed the incident and how it would be handled. I also told her about the comment by Jane Doe that my calling the police was a “white thing.” Silence on that. She expressed her outrage about the threats of violence, told me that she had experience dealing with these kinds of situations, and assured me appropriate action would be taken. Yeah, right. Famous last words.
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As it turned out, the information in her email was not accurate. John Smith had not withdrawn from school. This is how I found out. Two days later, I was teaching that class and I saw Jane Doe walking the halls. I was wondering if she was violating her suspension, so I emailed Jennifer Ross. She responded with this email:
From: Jennifer Ross (jross@asa.edu)
Date: 12/11/19 02:08 pm
To: Frank Bella (fbella@asa.edu)
Subject: Re[4]: The threat by a student
Only Mr. Smith was temporarily suspended. I spoke with her [Jane Doe] last night and I am requesting that both students be moved to another class.
Jennifer N. Ross, JD
Title IX Coordinator | Ombud
This whole thing was weird. What did she mean that “Mr. Smith was temporarily suspended”? Well, it turns out, unbeknownst to me, John Smith was never actually suspended at first. He could have been walking the halls of school on Thursday and Friday, but evidently chose on his own not to attend school on those days. So without realizing it, I was very vulnerable to a physical assault.
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It was not until Monday (remember, I was never told any of this) that Jennifer Ross sent him that “suspension” letter. As I was soon to find out, that “suspension” was only for the remainder of the week of the incident – three days! And I had to pull teeth to even find that out. Jennifer Ross was obviously avoiding me, clearly embarrassed to admit that she and the school had done nothing to this student. Only when I sent her the above email about Jane Doe, did she even bother telling me that John Smith was suspended at all, let alone for only three days. I went to Maritza Mercado to complain. “I guess I was right,” I said. “If you are a tuition-paying student you can get away with anything at ASA. “
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Well, I was angry enough at this development, but there was more. Jane Doe had written me a nasty email. In response to that, I did not reply to her, but sent the email (below) to Lizhi Zhu, Michael Thomas Cain, and Jennifer Ross. I made it clear I would no longer take any abuse from these students. Going forward, I said Lizhi Zhu needed to handle Jane Doe’s complaints. I also reminded them that Jennifer Ross had ordered Jane Doe removed from my class. I also reminded them of her “white thing” comment. Again, silence on that.
Shockingly, ASA lawyer Jennifer Ross allowed the student who made threats of violence to walk the halls of the school, with no punishment whatsoever.
From: Frank Bella (fbella@asa.edu)
Date: 12/11/19 04:26 pm
To: Jennifer Ross (jross@asa.edu), Lizhi Zhu (lzhu@asa.edu), Michael Cain (mcain@asa.edu)
Subject: Fw: Re[2]: Midterm Grade
Jennifer, Lizhi Zhu, Michael,
Below is the response I received from Jane Doe, where she calls me a liar for saying she did not hand in any homework. I left much out of my email to her. For example, she shouted out "I didn't study this shit" at the beginning of the midterm exam. I had to tell her to be silent. She then proceeded to get a zero on the exam. Also, when the police arrived to remove her from my room last week, she said, "This is a white thing." I told this to both Jennifer and Maritza.
I will be giving all of her "work" to [Lizhi] Zhu tomorrow morning in Manhattan (the two failed tests). If she wishes to pursue this, [Lizhi] Zhu is the chairman and I ask that he handle it. I am not interested in taking any further abuse from this student, especially since, per Jennifer, she is no longer in my class.
Frank Bella
When the cops walked into the room to remove John Smith, Jane Doe said out loud, “Oh, this is a white thing.” ASA did not even acknowledge this, let alone do anything about it.
This entire ordeal was interrupted, in a sense, by the lengthy Christmas break. Upon returning to school after the break, I was shocked that Jane Doe came into my class and took her seat as if nothing had happened! This, after Jennifer Ross had supposedly ordered her removal right after the original incident. I sent this email to Lizhi Zhu:
From: Frank Bella (fbella@asa.edu)
Date: 01/13/20 09:16 am
To: Lizhi Zhu (lzhu@asa.edu)
Cc: Michael Cain (mcain@asa.edu)
Subject: Urgent – Jane Doe still in my class
Dear [Lizhi Zhu],
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Please consider this email as an urgent matter in need of your immediate attention and action.
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I refer you to two emails below, which you had already received. One is dated December 11 from Jennifer Ross after she concluded her investigation of the incident involving the police and the two students in my class. Jennifer wrote, "I am requesting that both students be moved to another class."
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The second email, also from December 11, had also been sent to you when Jane Doe wrote to me in an abusive manner. I wrote, "I will be giving all of her "work" to [Lizhi] Zhu tomorrow morning in Manhattan (the two failed tests). If she wishes to pursue this, [Lizhi] Zhu is the chairman and I ask that he handle it. I am not interested in taking any further abuse from this student, especially since, per Jennifer, she is “no longer in my class."
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The police incident happened December 4. Since the incident, Jane Doe did not come to my class again, for two full weeks before the Christmas break (four classes). Naturally, I assumed she had been removed from my class as the other student had been and as per Jennifer Ross's instructions.
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I was astonished last Monday, upon returning to school, that Jane was in attendance in my class. I announced that anyone not in my class must leave the room. When she did not leave, I checked the roster and she is still registered in my class! I cannot believe that this was not handled and fell through the cracks. I understand that you have been on vacation, but this should have been handled then by someone else. I have spoken to Michael Cain, as the Brooklyn administrator, at length about this and he is equally dismayed.
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This is potentially an explosive situation that can very easily lead to another police incident. I handled this as best I could and made the decision to simply teach the class last week and wait for you to transfer her out of my class. I also spoke to Maritza about this and she also agreed with my decision.
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As you know, I sent you the grade breakdown at the time to avoid any claims that a failing grade is in retaliation. This was suggested by you and Lilly and Kufor at the time. Jane Doe has a 12 average (out of 100) and has no mathematical chance to pass the class. No doubt she will complain. But as I said in my email last month, I am not going to tolerate this kind of abuse.
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I request that you remove her immediately and notify her.
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To repeat, please see the emails I referenced below. Thank you.
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Frank Bella
Lizhi Zhu responded below:
From: Lizhi Zhu (lzhu@asa.edu)
Date: 01/13/20 10:45 am
To: Frank Bella (fbella@asa.edu)
Cc: Michael Cain (mcain@asa.edu)
Subject: Re: Urgent – Jane Doe still in my class
Hi Frank,
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Was there another incident? I was out the week before the Winter Break and I just came back. Can we talk about it tomorrow?
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Thank you.
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Lizhi Zhu
Chairperson
Arts and Sciences Division
I responded below:
From: Frank Bella <fbella@asa.edu>
Sent: Monday, January 13, 2020 11:02 AM
To: Frank Lizhi Zhu <lzhu@asa.edu>
Cc: Michael Cain <mcain@asa.edu>
Subject: Re[2]: Urgent – Jane Doe still in my class
No, Lizhi Zhu there was not another incident but I fear there will be. I don't understand what there is to talk about tomorrow. The decisions had already been made last month. She was to be removed from my class. That has not happened.
Now, I have that class tonight and I do not want her in that class. This should have been done already. Please remove her before tonight's class. I repeat, see all the previous correspondence.
Frank Bella
From: Frank Bella <fbella@asa.edu>
Sent: Monday, January 13, 2020 12:34 PM
To: Frank Lizhi Zhu <lzhu@asa.edu>
Cc: Michael Cain <mcain@asa.edu>
Subject: Re[4]: Urgent – Jane Doe still in my class
This is Jennifer's decision from last month. I forwarded this again to you this morning. You had also received it at the time. She spoke with the student and instructed that she be removed from my class.
---- Forwarded Message -----
From: Jennifer Ross (jross@asa.edu)
Date: 12/11/19 02:08 pm
To: Frank Bella (fbella@asa.edu)
Subject: Re[4]: The threat by a student
Only Mr. Smith was temporarily suspended. I spoke with her last night and I am requesting that both students be moved to another class.
Jennifer N. Ross, JD
Title IX Coordinator | Ombud
In response Lizhi Zhu sent me this email below:
From: Lizhi Zhu (lzhu@asa.edu)
Date: 01/13/20 12:16 pm
To: Frank Bella (fbella@asa.edu)
Cc: Michael Cain (mcain@asa.edu)
Subject: Re[3]: Urgent – Jane Doe still in my class
I have been off since mid-December, suffering from a bad flu at the time. I'm not sure if anyone (Jennifer Ross?) has contacted this female student and made the decision to remove her from your class.
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Lizhi Zhu
Chairperson
Arts and Sciences Division
What a goddamn circus! So on December 11th, Jennifer Ross stated that Jane Doe would be removed from my class. A month later, on January 13th, Lizhi Zhu is “unsure” if this has been done. Needless to say, the conclusion to this sorry story is that the student who made the threats of physical violence received a three-day suspension (days he did not go to school anyway, so he missed no time at all), continued to attend ASA as if nothing happened; Jane Doe, who was supposed to be removed from my class, stayed in my class for the remainder of the semester and, of course, failed. The “white thing” remark was never even acknowledged, let alone addressed by ASA. Double standard? Cowardice? Incompetence? Yes, all of that.
Obnoxious Student Gets the Royal Treatment
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This next incident would fall into the “Unbelievable” category at any school other than ASA. When telling this and similar stories to educators outside of ASA, I am always met with gasping “unbelief.” In order to truly understand this story, you must first understand that A$A is all about the $ in A$A. Semesters are 15 weeks. Shockingly, and against any educational standards and best educational practices, students would regularly be admitted to class in Weeks 5, 6 and even 7 at A$A. Why, you A$K? Take a GUE$$.
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A student I will call “Ty Cobb” appeared on my English Composition II class roster in Week 7 (a week before midterm exams!) and walked into the Writing Center in Brooklyn to speak to me about the class that same week. Although the absurdity of such a thing is beyond description, people must understand that teachers at A$A do not have the authority to remove students or to tell students not to come to class, even if your purpose is to explain to the student that he cannot possibly pass. Lizhi Zhu had a standard reply in these situations. “Let the students come to class and don’t say anything. Whether they pass or fail is a completely different issue,” he would say.
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As we had done many times before in similar situations, English administrator Michael Thomas Cain and I discussed this. Michael suggested – and I agreed – to make a schedule for Ty Cobb to submit all of the work he missed. Of course, all of this is absolutely ridiculous. A student who has missed half a semester of instruction cannot possibly do all the work properly, submit it in a condensed amount of time, and have a prayer of passing. I would hasten to add that this is also grossly unfair to teachers, who essentially have to operate a parallel semester for one student. Separate due dates, separate accommodations, etc.
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Well, Ty Cobb, to no surprise, did not fulfill his end of the bargain. He was regularly late and absent for class. When he was in class, he stared most of the time at his cell phone, despite my private admonitions. He frequently walked out of class early, or walked out for stretches of time before returning at the end. Needless to say, he failed the class with flying colors. By no measure did he even remotely come close to passing – this, by the way, despite me speaking to him many times in the Writing Center about what he had to do to pass. He was sometimes rude and usually came across as “entitled.” (I was careful to always meet with him in the Writing Center so I would have Michael Thomas Cain as a witness).
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Sure enough, at the conclusion of the semester, Ty Cobb protested his failed grade. He complained to Lillian Granillo, whose title was “Assistant Dean for Academic Success & Student Support Services.” Lizhi Zhu always complained that Lillian was totally unqualified for the job, was promoted merely because she had been Shanthi Konkoth’s secretary, and blindly advocated even for the worst and most undeserving students. So evidently, Ty Cobb knew whom to complain to.
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Unbelievably, a meeting was called at Lillian’s behest, as she was advocating for Ty Cobb. The meeting consisted of Lillian, Lizhi Zhu, the Provost Shanthi Konkoth, and me, with Ty Cobb waiting out in the hallway. So three college administrators, including the second highest ranking person at ASA, and a professor, were all at a scheduled meeting for this one failing student. I was waiting for the Pope and the President of the United States to walk in. I swear to God, this could have been a skit out of Saturday Night Live.
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Anyway, Shanthi opened up by asking Lillian, “Why are we here?” Lillian responded, “The student is protesting his grade.” Shanthi replied, “I know that. What is the nature of the dispute?” Lillian said, “He’s not happy with his grade.” Oy vey.
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I then proceeded to explain once again how ridiculous this was. The student had a 41 average (65 is passing). I harped on a few things, but I especially wanted to know why a student is even permitted in the first place to enter a class in Week 7, the week before midterm exams. Interestingly, Shanthi expressed bewilderment and unhappiness about that, stating that she would “investigate” how this was permitted to happen. I have my doubts about her seriousness because this was a constant problem at A$A, not a one-time occurrence. Teachers were always complaining about students who entered class in Weeks 5, 6, or 7. The consensus was that A$A allowed this simply for the money, to hell with best educational practices and any sort of educational standards. In my conversations with people in the enrollment department and guidance department, it was explained to me that A$A wanted them to “make students happy” so that they wouldn’t leave the school. That’s why I have my doubts that Shanthi was serious about “investigating” something that went on frequently. She had to know.
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As this meeting progressed and I was betraying my incredulity at this farce, there was actually an amusing moment. At one point I asked Shanthi, “Why don’t we just push this guy through and just pass him?” Of course, I was being sarcastic, but for some reason (maybe my straight face) Shanthi thought I was serious. She replied, “Because I have my integrity.” Oh, brother.
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As Shanthi was throwing out ideas as to how to pacify this student, I asked seriously, “Why are we even bothering to accommodate this guy?” Shanthi replied, “Because I have to look at the big picture.” Her point was that even though this student deserved nothing, you always have to be aware of complaints and possible lawsuits, etc. In the end, the student was given the option to take the class again, online, for free. Months later, I was told by the online teacher that Ty Cobb had plagiarized a research paper.
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END OF PART 2.
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This is the grade breakdown for Ty Cobb, showing his 41.45 average.