Bias is a human trait resulting from our tendency and need to classify individuals into categories as we strive to quickly process information and make sense of the world. (See: United States Department of Justice, Community Relations Service, Understanding Bias: A Resource Guide)
Biases can be intentional or unintentional, explicit or implicit, conscious or unconscious.
What is a Bias Incident?
A bias incident involves unwelcome conduct targeting or having a negative effect on an individual or group based on actual or perceived membership in a protected class such as race, color, national origin (includes language), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, disability, genetic information, age, pregnancy, and/or protected veteran.
The incident is experienced as hurtful by one or many and may involve harassment, the creation of a hostile environment, property damage, verbal threats of violence, or physical violence. The incident may or may not involve breaches of University policies or state or federal law.
Conduct does not need to rise to the level of a policy violation or hate crime in order to constitute a bias incident. Policy violations will be referred to the appropriate entity for further investigation as outlined in the Student Handbook, University Manual, or relevant HR policy. Hate crimes will be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for further investigation pursuant to governing law.
Bias incidents are antithetical to our foundational values and our strategic priority of fostering a people-centered, inclusive culture.
Examples of Bias Incidents (Oregon Department of Justice)
Bias incidents can be verbal, physical, or visual. This language and behavior often contributes to or creates an unsafe or unwelcoming environment. Some examples include:
- Name-calling; using a racial, ethnic, or other slur to identify someone; or using degrading language.
- Creating racist or derogatory images/drawings.
- Imitating or mocking someone with a disability, or mocking someone’s cultural norm or practice.
Bias Incident vs. Hate Crime
The above description may make someone think of the term “Hate Crime”. However, these two terms are not the same. What distinguishes the two is the legality of the action.
For example, degrading someone because they are a person of color is a hate crime.
If someone is harassed or teased because of a disability but not to the point of violating a law, it is bias incident. As soon as the action crosses the line of violating a law, it may be defined as a hate crime.
The Bias Resource Team understands that distinguishing whether something is a bias incident or a hate crime may be difficult. If you have a feeling or just want to report the incident to be sure, feel free to make a report about what happened, and we can help you from there. The BRT can examine a situation and help a reporter decide what to do next.