Bias Reporting and Response
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What is a Bias Incident?
Whitman College is committed to building a campus community that is diverse, equitable and inclusive of all students, staff and faculty. Bias incidents are acts or behaviors motivated by the offender's bias against age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. These acts do not necessarily rise to the level of a crime. A bias act may contribute to creating an unsafe, negative, or unwelcome community environment.
What is a Hate Crime?
Under federal, state and local laws, a hate crime is defined as a criminal offense committed against a person or property which is motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender's bias against a race, gender, religion, disability, ethnic/national origin groups or sexual-orientation
Both Bias Incidents and Hate Crimes can be reported using the form but different process are enacted as a result of reporting.
What Happens When I Report a Bias Incident
Reports will be treated as confidentially as possible. If you identify yourself on the form, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Thomas Witherspoon will either contact you directly or designate an appropriate member of Whitman staff to discuss details of the incident and work with you to reach a timely resolution. He can also provide you with information about other resources that may be helpful.
While not all bias incidents involve a violation of Whitman's policies and procedures, a bias response team member can also help you evaluate whether you wish to pursue disciplinary action against a member of our campus community, based on Whitman's grievance policy.
Bias Response Team & Mandatory Reporters:
Helen Kim
Associate Dean for Faculty Development & Professor of Sociology
kimh2@whitman.edu
509-527-5187
Juli Dunn
Senior Associate Dean of Students, 504 Coordinator
dunnjl@whitman.edu
509-522-4403
Support and Resources
We can ensure that reporting people are connected to counseling and security resources if they are interested in that type of support. We also can assist with no-contact orders. Additionally, we can communicate with faculty on their behalf if they are interested. In my short time, we have even made special accommodations for a student to turn in final papers at a distance. Every situation is different, and we try our best to work within the parameters of what the individual student needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whitman College Policies that Address Bias Related Incidents
Whitman College Confidential Resources
Counseling Center, 509-527-5195
Adam Kirtley, Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, 509-522-4449
Sexual Assault and Violence Advocate, 509-526-3032