色界吧 is committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all members of the 色界吧 community.
Dear 色界吧 Community,
We understand that recent events on campus and in the world around us have heightened concerns about antisemitic, Islamophobic, and other forms of bias and harassment. 色界吧 is committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all members of the 色界吧 community. First, we want to clarify that College policies prohibit antisemitic, anti-Muslim, and other forms of harassment based on religious, ethnic, and/or ancestral characteristics. We encourage community members to report these types of incidents and seek support.
We also want to take this opportunity to highlight the roles that the College鈥檚 Bias Education and Support Team (BEST) and Civil Rights & Title IX Office play in confronting bias and harassment. These offices are focused, respectively, on confronting harms and resolving complaints. We also want to remind the community of reporting options and resources that are available to you. In addition, this message previews additional efforts that will soon be underway.
At 色界吧, a 鈥渂ias incident鈥 is defined as a behavior, whether intentional or unintentional, that constitutes hostility against a person or group because of their real or perceived identity. 色界吧 recognizes that such incidents can have tremendous impact on our community and can cause significant harm, even where they involve protected free speech or otherwise do not qualify as violations of College policy.
BEST is an educational, voluntary, non-punitive approach to addressing reported bias incidents among students. While the Civil Rights & Title IX Office oversees resolution of policy violations, BEST鈥檚 mission is to promote dialogue and understanding of impact. BEST members provide support to students who have experienced bias, and growth opportunities for community members. Additional information about BEST鈥檚 approach can be found here.
BEST members seek to address the impact of bias incidents through appropriate resources, restorative practices, and community care. Typically, this process begins with an invitation to the reporting student to discuss their report, and to determine viable education or non-punitive outcomes that promote healing and an overall positive community environment. Examples of outcomes BEST has worked with students on include:
- Coordinating restorative conversations between students who may have experienced harm or disagreement;
- Working with campus partners to address vandalism or violations in or around campus buildings or spaces; and
- Working with student clubs and organizations to offer suggestions to improve their own guidelines and bylaws to be more inclusive of all students.
BEST also reviews bias reports for trends that may inform educational programs and services and works to interrupt problematic behaviors that can undermine other students鈥 sense of belonging at the College. Please complete the if you have witnessed or experienced a potential bias-related incident.
CIVIL RIGHTS & TITLE IX OFFICE
As the Department of Education , there has been an alarming rise in reports of antisemitic, Islamophobic, and other hate-based incidents on college campuses nationwide. To be clear, 色界吧 unapologetically stands against hate speech as antithetical to its mission and values. College policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, whether it is based on an individual鈥檚 religion, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, or some combination of these characteristics. In this challenging moment that is dividing communities worldwide, we affirm that Jewish students, Israeli students, Muslim students, Palestinian students, and all others are entitled to be free from discrimination in our community, and to have equal access to College programs.
We ask the College community to help protect against harassment by potential violations of the Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy. Office personnel provide education, training, support, and resources, and can also guide you through resolution options. Frequently asked questions about the College鈥檚 Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy are available here.
CONFIDENTIAL RESOURCES
If you鈥檙e not sure that you鈥檙e ready or willing to talk to BEST or the Civil Rights & Title IX Office, please consider contacting a confidential resource. Find a list of confidential reporting options here. Confidential resources will not reveal what you tell them to anyone without your consent. They also can provide you with support and link you to services.
PHYSICAL SAFETY CONCERNS
If you are concerned about a potential threat of physical harm to you or anyone within the campus community, please immediately dial 911 for emergencies or contact Campus Safety by calling (323) 259-2599. We also encourage students to download the LiveSafe app to report and receive updates on any safety-related matter.
EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT ANTISEMITIC AND ANTI-MUSLIM HARASSMENT
In light of the tensions stemming from the continuing conflict in Israel and Gaza, BEST and the Civil Rights & Title IX Office will collaborate to review reports of bias and harassment and continually assess the campus environment. The Civil Rights & Title IX Office regularly publishes a summary of all reports received during the previous semester. In addition, we will provide a summary about any reported campus incidents involving alleged antisemitism or anti-Muslim bias and will publish this information through the BEST and Civil Rights & Title IX Office websites in January (adding updates as necessary).
Additionally, the Civil Rights & Title IX Office and BEST will co-lead a preventative, educational campaign to address the potential for antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents on campus. Partnering with other student-support offices, such as the Intercultural Community Center and Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, we will offer the following types of programs and resources in the spring semester:
- In-person and online training opportunities related to awareness and prevention of antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias.
- Reliable and unbiased educational materials to help community members identify and intervene in incidents of harassment and discrimination based on race, religion, ethnicity, and national origin.
- Small group listening sessions, workshops, and/or outreach with student, faculty, and professional/advocacy groups to help identify concerning trends on campus and beyond, and further inform the College鈥檚 educational and supportive measures.
We believe these actions will make significant progress in our effort to combat antisemitism, anti-Muslim bias, and other forms of harassment impacting members of our community. We understand that this work is never-ending, and we look forward to collaborating with students, faculty and staff to remain vigilant in addressing these concerns.
Sincerely,
The Civil Rights & Title IX Office
The Bias Education and Support Team