Bias Incidents
Nondiscrimination, Bias Incidents, and Hate Crimes
Nondiscrimination
Bard College is committed to ensuring equal access to its educational programs and equal employment without regard to an individual’s sex, gender, race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, veteran status, military status, domestic violence victim status, ex-offender status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Students, employees, applicants and other members of Bard College community (including, but not limited to, vendors, visitors and guests) shall not be subject to discrimination or harassment prohibited by law or otherwise treated adversely based upon a protected characteristic. Similarly, the College will not tolerate harassing, violent, intimidating, or discriminatory conduct by its students, employees, or any other member of, or visitor to, the College community. This includes, without limitation, sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual violence, dating violence, and domestic violence.
While Bard College is committed to the free and open exchange of ideas and to the view that the expression of controversial ideas and differing views is a vital part of campus discourse, it does not condone harassment or expressions of bias or hate aimed at individuals or groups. Speech or expression that is not prohibited, but is rude, lacking in respect, disruptive, or hateful is discouraged. The College may voice its disapproval of such expression through private communications, public condemnation, the organization of public forum and calls for more speech and open debate.
Bias Incidents and Hate Crimes
A bias incident is an event, behavior, or action which is personally directed against or targets an individual or group based on perceived or actual characteristics such as race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity/expression, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, or military veteran status. The kinds of incidents that may constitute a bias incident include, but are not limited to, hostile and/or abusive verbal, written or electronic communication, graffiti, stalking, and vandalism. A hate crime is a bias incident that includes a definable crime, such as: threats of violence, property damage, personal injury, and other illegal conduct.
Reporting a hate crime
If you think you have been the victim of or a witness to a hate crime you may, in addition to the reporting mechanisms described below, file a report with the New York State Police or local law enforcement agency. What constitutes a criminal act will be defined by the penal code of the jurisdiction in which the misconduct allegedly occurred. To file a criminal report, contact:
New York State Police (845-876-4194)
Red Hook Police Department (845-758-0060)
Reporting a Bias Incident or Hate Crime:
Bard College strongly encourages the reporting of all bias incidents and hate crimes that occur on campus, at college-sponsored events, or activities occurring off campus. If you believe that you have been the victim of a bias incident or hate crime, or if you believe one has occurred, you are strongly encouraged to report it as quickly as possible. For emergencies, contact the Bard College Office of Safety and Security at 845-758-7777 or go to the Old Gym. You can also use the online reporting tool or contact any of the offices below; in either case, it is important to indicate that you are making an official report to the College of a bias incident or hate crime.
Office of Safety and Security
John Gomez, director
845.758.7460
845.758.7777 (emergency #)
jgomez@bard.edu
Old Gym
Human Resources
Kimberly Alexander, director
845-758-7428
hr@bard.edu
Ludlow
Office for Gender Equity
Isabel Filkins ’15, Interim Title IX coordinator
845-758-7542
titleix@bard.edu
Sottery Hall
Deans of Students:
Bethany Nohlgren, dean of students
845-758-7454
nohlgren@bard.edu
Sottery Hall
Darnell Pierce, assistant dean of students
845-758-7454
dpierce@bard.edu
Sottery Hall
Timand Bates, associate dean of students
845-758-7454
tbates@bard.edu
Sottery Hall
Community Response and Support:
In addition to its commitment to investigating reports of bias incidents and hate crimes, the College is also committed to providing support to individuals who are directly or indirectly impacted by them and to developing programs and policies to reduce their incidence. In addition to the offices and individuals listed above, community members who are affected by bias can seek support from any member of the Bard College Chaplaincy, Counseling Services and the Bias Incident Community Response Team.
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