Is a bias crime or a hate crime different from a bias incident?
The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office categorizes a bias crime as “any crime committed by a defendant against a victim when that victim (either a person or an institution) is intentionally selected, in whole or substantial part, because of that victim’s perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, age, disability, or sexual orientation.” All bias or hate crimes are bias incidents, but not all bias incidents rise to the level of a “bias or hate crime.”
The College takes bias-related crimes seriously. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors are encouraged to immediately report all bias-related crimes via the bias incident report form (link). Reports may also be made directly to Campus Safety, the local police or other law enforcement agencies. When a bias incident reported to the College is reasonably believed to constitute a crime, the College also may be obliged to make a report to external law enforcement agencies.
What happens when I submit a bias incident report?
When a report is received, a member of the Bias Incident Response Team will respond within two working days to learn more about the incident and may offer support. For students, this may include support for mediation, guidance with strategies for reconciliation, conflict resolution or minimizing contact.
Who receives Bias Incident Reports?
The Assistant Vice President for DEI, the Director of Student DEIB and the Vice President and Dean of Students comprise the Bias Incident Response Team and review reports of bias-related incidents. They make a preliminary assessment as to whether a College policy has been violated, and determine which other offices to notify. The Bias Incident Response Team is neither an investigative nor a disciplinary body, and the decision to open an investigation into a claim of bias-related conduct will remain with the College officials that currently hold those responsibilities. For example, an apparent violation of community standards by an undergraduate student will be referred to Residential Education for assessment and follow-up.
Why should I report a bias incident?
Tracking incidents of possible bias is an important part of understanding our campus climate and learning how to improve inclusion and belonging for all members of our community. Addressing incidents of bias helps the community remain aligned with our Principles of Mutual Respect and promote a healthy living and learning environment.
Can I report anonymously?
It is not possible to make an anonymous report in MySLC. However, the identity of the reporting student will be kept confidential and will not be revealed to anyone outside the Bias Incident Response Team without consent.
What happens when a College policy has been violated?
- For undergraduate students, the Director of Residential Education will be notified and may investigate and/or administer sanctions as appropriate. Refer to the Community Standards section of the Student Handbook for more information.
- For graduate students, the Dean of Graduate Studies will be notified and may investigate and administer sanctions.
- For faculty and staff, the Associate Dean of the College and the VP of Human Resources, respectively, will be notified and may investigate and/or administer sanctions as appropriate.
How do I report a bias incident?
Please use this form to submit a Bias Incident Report.
What if the incident did not involve another SLC community member?
We track bias incidents that affect members of the SLC community regardless of who is involved. Of course we may not be in a position to follow-up with persons outside the Sarah Lawrence community if they engage in bias-related misconduct. When appropriate, local law enforcement will be notified.
Can I report an incident if I don’t know or do not want to name the person responsible?
Yes. When describing a bias incident, please include as much or as little information as you are comfortable sharing. A student can always share more information with the Bias Incident Response Team after the initial report.
In the event that the person responsible is unknown or unknowable, it is still important to report the incident, especially if it constitutes a danger to or harassment of community members. If, for example, someone from a passing car yelled a slur at a student, Campus Safety would investigate and inform the community and local law enforcement as appropriate.
Where can I find support if I experience a bias incident?
The Bias Incident Response Team is available to talk with anyone in the SLC community who experiences a bias related incident. They can help refer individuals to appropriate resources and may offer support in the form of mediation, guidance with strategies for reconciliation, or conflict resolution.