Bias Reporting
Syracuse University
Relevant Excerpt
What is Bias?
Bias is defined as behavior that constitutes an expression of hostility against a person or property of another because of targeted person’s individual or group’s actual or perceived creed, ethnicity, citizenship, sexual orientation, reproductive health decisions, national origin, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, marital status, political or social affiliation, age, race, color, veteran status, military status, religion, sexual orientation, domestic violence status, genetic information, gender identity, and/or gender expression. While it isn’t always easy to recognize, bias can be present in the classroom, workplace, and media, and often stems from fear, misunderstanding, hatred, and stereotypes.
Examples of bias behaviors and actions may include the use of microaggressions, slurs, or other offensive language towards something or someone.
How Do I Report Bias?
Any student, staff, faculty, alumni or visitor can report an incident motivated by bias by using the STOP Bias Report Form.
We encourage everyone to use our report form. If preferred, campus community members can also make a report to the Department of Public Safety (DPS).
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Once you submit a report, a member of the Community Standards Bias Response Team (BRT) will contact you, if you provided contact information, within three business days to offer support and resources, gather any additional information and develop an individualized support and potential response plan. From there, the Community Standards staff determine which campus partners might need to be involved and connect with those partners to ensure the situation is addressed effectively.
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What Types of Incidents Should be Reported?
Any language or act which you believe may be motivated by bias can be reported through the reporting form. This may include actions, behaviors, or language that are motivated by bias, whether intentional or unintentional. For example: verbal threat, verbal or writing slurs, microaggressions, harassment based on identity, physical assault, vandalism, or derogatory language or insults.
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What Steps are Taken to Ensure that Reported Incidents are Taken Seriously and Addressed Appropriately?
Community Standards takes bias incident reports very seriously. The team offers outreach and support to those who may be impacted by the incident, provides follow up and educational opportunities to those who may have committed acts of bias (which may include referral to the student conduct process), and communicates effectively with all parties and community members when appropriate. If an alleged party is found responsible through the student conduct process, appropriate disciplinary actions may be taken. The team also gathers data to determine what trends and patterns may be occurring to better address such incidents, and educate the community about bias incidents on campus.