He said DPS takes complaints from professors and staff about students into careful consideration. Since she came to ISU more than a year ago, Dean of Students Kathleen MacKay said there have been only a handful of complaints made by professors about students who threaten them. But she said one is too many to ignore. MacKay, who has served on the team, said the threats usually turn out to be nothing serious. Ames Police Chief Dennis Ballantine said it's common for people to be more aware of such violence on campus.
People are more willing to turn to violence.
Just before the Sidhu's children were killed, professors had shrugged off the threats of students. After the Royer incident, however, Ballantine said professors started paying a little more attention. Today, some ISU professors say they have never felt uneasy around their students. But several have. Brearley said he cannot recall ever being threatened by a student or feeling uneasy about a student's actions.