Bias Incidents and Discrimination
Macalester College
Relevant Excerpt
Macalester fosters a community of respect, integrity, and care. If you have experienced a possible bias incident, discriminatory harassment, or discrimination, please use this form to report the incident:
Please note that you do not need to determine if the incident meets specific criteria. ...
What is a bias-related incident?
Bias-related incidents refer to language, images or behaviors that demonstrate bias against another person based on but not limited to their membership in a group, based on race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexuality, disability, age, religion, or an individual’s particular characteristics, role, or behavior.
Expression of ideas or points of view that may be offensive or inflammatory to some, may not necessarily be a bias-related incident. The College does value freedom of expression and the open exchange of ideas. This value of openness protects controversial ideas, but it does not protect harassment or expression of bias or harassment aimed at individuals that violate college policy.
What is harassment?
When these acts are intended to harm an individual or have the purpose or effect of unreasonably or substantially interfering with an individual’s safety and security by creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational or working environment they can be defined as harassment. These acts defined as harassment may be based on a person’s identity characteristics or they may not.
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What can I do to create a culture of inclusion and respect at Macalester?
- Speak out when jokes or comments are made that are hateful or demean others.
- If you witness or experience discrimination, harassment, bias motivated incidents, report the behavior.
- Examine your own behavior and consider how it may affect others in the community. Take steps to understand what motivates you and how you can help create an affirming, supportive environment for all people.
- Attend programs, lectures, workshops, etc. that increase your knowledge and understanding of people different from you.