Central Connecticut State University
Office of Diversity and Equity
BIAS INCIDENT RESPONSE PROCEDURE
The purpose of the Bias
Incident Response Plan is to provide a timely and effective response to
incidents of bias and prejudice; to improve the campus climate; to ensure
accountability, and to provide advocacy for persons affected by bias motivated
incidents. This procedure is
not intended to violate the individual rights of any persons, including the
rights guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Important: If you or another are injured or in any
immediate danger, call 911 for assistance. If you witness or are the victim of a crime, notify the
police at once (CCSU Police 832-2375).
I.
DEFINITIONS
Bias
Incident - an act of
discrimination[i], hate speech[ii],
harassment[iii],
or retaliation[iv] by known or
unknown offenders that occurs on the CCSU campus or property, and that one
could reasonably conclude is directed at a member or group of the Central
Connecticut State University community because of that individual’s or group’s
actual or perceived age, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, ex-offender
status, gender, gender identity/presentation, marital status, national origin,
race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any combination of these
or other related factors.
Critical
incident - Critical
incidents are those situations that might present a risk of significant bodily
harm, property damage, legal issues, or media notification, and that require
immediate action beyond the scope of a normal bias investigation.
Hate
Crime – Connecticut’s
hate crime laws are in two broad categories. First, there are a number of laws
aimed specifically at hate (e.g., Deprivation
of rights. Desecration of property. Cross burning). However, other actual criminal offenses may also be hate
crimes if motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender's bias toward the
affected individuals’ status. Various elements, alone or in combination,
determine whether or not a crime is a hate crime. All hate crimes are bias incidents, but not all bias
incidents are hate crimes. The CCSU Police Department is responsible for
investigating all reports of crimes – including alleged hate crimes. The CCSU Police may also involve other
police agencies at the state or federal level depending upon the seriousness of
the crime. The Office of Student
Conduct will also investigate if the alleged offender is a student.
Victim/Person
Affected - Not all
persons affected by an incident will consider themselves victims. Many will,
however, so the terms are interchangeable depending on the situation. Individuals affected by a bias incident
are not always limited to those individuals or institutions directly targeted
by the crime. For example, racist graffiti or vandalism on campus may target an
entire population without actually damaging any of their individual property.
While in this case, damaged university property belongs solely to the
institution, indirect affected persons of such incidents are also the
individuals whose status is evoked in the racist message. This Plan will
advocate for persons affected by bias incidents, and also track bias incidents
that are not perpetrated against any particular individual if such incidents
generate an indirect, but unequivocal impact on the individuals or populations
at risk (e.g., defacing of public property, burning down of student property,
destroying certain books in a library, altering of road-side signs).
Complainant – Any individual reporting an alleged
bias incident.
Report
Recipient - Any faculty or staff member who
receives a report or becomes aware of a bias incident.
II.
REPORTING AN INCIDENT
There are three ways that
incidents can be reported: 1) by
the affected individual(s); 2) by a Third Party; 3) by a Report Recipient.
1) Report by the affected individual(s): CCSU encourages all members of the
campus community who believe they are affected individual(s) of a bias
motivated incident or crime to immediately report the incident to the Office of
Diversity and Equity and, in the case of hate crimes, to the University Police
Department. Although reporting is not required, it is strongly encouraged. Immediate reporting is an important
factor in successful investigation and in order to take prompt corrective
actions. When the report is made, the affected individual(s) must complete a
Bias Incident Report Form (Attachment A). As soon as is practically possible,
the Chief Diversity Officer or his designee will initiate the Bias Incident
Report protocol (See flowchart, Attachment B).
2) Report
by a Third Party: Any
member of the university community can file a third party report to the ODE
regarding a potential bias motivated incident, or, the case of a hate crime, to
the CCSU Police. Even if the
affected individual(s) does not wish to come forward, a report is encouraged,
as it can provide useful information for protecting the community-at-large and
connecting similar reports while protecting the affected individuals’
anonymity.
3) Report Recipient: When the affected individual(s) of or a
witness to a bias incident reports it to a faculty or staff member or another
student, that person becomes a Report
Recipient. He or she should contact the Office of Diversity and Equity and
complete a Bias Incident Report Form (Attachment A). As soon as is practically
possible, the Chief Diversity Officer or designee will initiate the Bias
Incident Report protocol (See flowchart, Attachment B). The Report Recipient may also determine
that it is appropriate to contact others, such as a Department Chair, or the
University Police in the case of an alleged hate crime.
III. THE
BIAS INCIDENT RESPONSE PROTOCOL
The Bias Incident Response
Protocol provides a means for responding in a timely and effective manner to
bias motivated incidents at CCSU. The Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE)
manages this process.
When a bias incident or
hate crime is reported, the ODE will determine if it constitutes a critical incident, and immediately
notify the Office of the President, the Executive Committee and the Marketing
and Communications Office. Marketing and Communication shall issue a communiqué
as soon as possible to notify members of the CCSU community and the media about
the incident. All questions from the media regarding bias incidents or hate crimes
are coordinated by the Office of Marketing and Communications.
The ODE will then notify
those university offices/officials deemed appropriate. These may include:
University Police
Department
Counseling and Wellness
Center
University Ombudsperson
Office of Student Affairs
Human Resources
Office of Student Conduct
Faculty Senate
Student Government
Association officers
Women’s Center
Within 24 hours of receipt
of a Bias Incident Report, the Chief Diversity Officer will convene an Ad Hoc
Response Committee, to include the Director of Marketing and Communications,
the University Ombudsperson, and other appropriate university officials
determined on a case by case basis. The Response Committee will determine the
appropriate action, including the development of an Action Plan, if
needed. In the case of Critical
Incidents, action plans must be approved by the President. Depending on the
circumstances, investigations of the incident might be carried out by the ODE,
the Office of Student Conduct, and/or the CCSU Police Department.
The ODE will notify the
person who filed the report of the recommended action by the ad hoc committee.
The University Ombudsperson
will be the main contact person for the affected individual(s) in the incident.
IV.
ASSISTANCE FOR AFFECTED INDIVIDUAL(S)
The
University's highest concern is for the emotional and physical well being of
persons affected by a bias motivated incident or hate crime. The person(s) affected shall have access
to all university services that can help them maintain emotional and
psychological well-being and provide for their safety. For example, affected students may
require assistance in changing their academic program or living arrangements if
these changes are reasonably available. The ODE
(2-1653) will be the first official point of contact for facilitating affected
individual(s) access to all needed services.
ROLE
OF THE OMBUDSPERSON
The University Ombudsperson
will neither investigate nor adjudicate complaints relating to a bias motivated
incident or hate crime. In the event of a bias incident report, the University
Ombudsperson will be notified by the Office of Diversity and Equity, and will
serve as the direct contact between the affected individual(s) of the incident
and the Ad Hoc Response Committee.
The ombudsperson will make every effort to contact the affected
individual(s) within 24 hours and, while respecting whatever decision they have
made, he will encourage them to get some type of assistance.
The Ombudsperson will also
ensure that other appropriate services are made available to the affected
individual(s). These may include, but are not limited to:
* Informal mediation
efforts as appropriate.
* Referral to the
Counseling and Wellness Center to meet with a counselor who will provide
additional emotional support and assist the affected individual(s) in sorting
out feelings associated with the incident.
* If Appropriate, referral
to the Women’s Center
* Appropriate medical
referral, if needed.
* Referral to the
appropriate university offices for advice on discrimination complaint
procedures, contractual remedies, alternative housing assignments, or academic
assistance.
CONTACTS
Office
of Diversity and Equity............................... 832-1653
CCSU
Police........................................................... 832-2375
Counseling
and Wellness Center............................. 832-1945
Office
of the Ombudsperson.................................. 832-2216
Human
Resources................................................... 832-1751
Office
of Student Conduct...................................... 832-1667
Academic
Affairs.................................................... 832-2228
Student
Affairs....................................................... 832-1601
Chief
Administrative Officer.................................. 832-1776
Student
Government Assoc.................................... 832-3740
Women’s
Center..................................................... 832-1655
CENTRAL
CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND EQUITY
Bias Incident Report
Instructions: If you have
been a person affected by or a witness to a bias incident, please complete and
submit this Report to the Office of Diversity and Equity. The filing of a Bias
Incident Report is taken seriously, and by submitting a report, you are
attesting that the information provided is true and correct to the best of your
knowledge. Submitting information about bias incidents is important. It
provides the notice necessary for CCSU to accurately monitor and appropriately
respond to activity that negatively impacts the climate and well-being of our
academic community. Thank you for taking the time to complete and submit this
report.
1. Individual
reporting alleged bias incident (Complainant):
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Name
/Department or Residence Hall Race/Sex
______________________________________________________________________________________
Campus
address
______________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone
Number
E-mail address (Optional)
Are you the
affected individual(s)? Yes
________ No________
If No, please
identify the affected individual(s) (if known) _________________
2. University
status of Complainant (s):
oStudent oFaculty
oStaff oConsultant/Contractor
oVisitor
University
status of Affected individual(s) (if known):
oStudent oFaculty
oStaff oConsultant/Contractor
oVisitor
3. Date and time of alleged bias incident:
___________________________
_______________________a.m./p.m.
(month/day/year)
(time
of day)
4. Location of alleged Bias Incident (be specific)_______________________________________________________
5. Information about suspected
offender (if known):
Name(s):
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone:
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Relationship to affected
individual(s):_______________________________________________________________________
University Status of suspected offender:
_____________________________________________________________________
Other:________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Type of Bias Incident (check all that apply):
oPhysical Attack oVerbal Attack o Graffiti
oIntimidation oVandalism oProperty Damage
oDiscrimination oSexual Harassment oOther: ______________________________
7. Suspected Motivation of Bias
Incident (check all that apply):
oAge oMarital Status oRetaliation
oNational Origin oEthnicity/Race oGender
oReligion/Creed oVeteran Status oEx-Offender Status
oSexual Orientation oDisability oGender Identity or Expression
oOther (please identify):__________________
8. Summary of Bias Incident (Attach
additional sheets as needed):
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
I affirm that the above information is true and
correct to the best of my knowledge.
Signature
of complainant
Date
FLOWCHART
[i] An act of discrimination is the
treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor or against, a
person or thing based on the group, class or category in which that person or
thing belongs rather than on individual merit.
[ii] Hate speech or fighting
words are those personally abusive epithets which, when addressed to the
ordinary citizen, are, as a matter of common knowledge, inherently likely to
provoke a violent reaction. They are words that are directed to the person of
the hearer, and which by their very utterance tend to incite an immediate
breach of the peace. (See Opinion of the Office of the Attorney General of
Connecticut directed to David G. Carter, Sr. Chancellor, Connecticut State
University System and dated November 1, 2007.)
[iii] Harassment is the
chronic unwanted and unwelcome treatment of another that has the effect of
interfering with an individual’s work, educational performance or status or
creates a hostile environment. It must include something beyond the mere
expression of views, words, symbols or thoughts that some person finds
offensive. The conduct must also be considered sufficiently serious to deny or
limit a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the educational
program or must be sufficiently severe so as to substantially interfere with a
person’s employment opportunities.
[iv] Retaliation is
discrimination against an individual or group that has opposed any practice
made unlawful or because the person or group has made a charge, testified,
assisted or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding or
hearing regarding another person or group’s unlawful conduct.
