In 1999, students concerned with issues surrounding diversity and bias at the University staged a sit-in at Johnson Hall. One of the group’s demands was the creation of a “Bias Response Team.”
Since its creation, the Bias Response Team, which is run out of the Office of Student Life, has been an advocate for students who feel they are targets of bias. Some people file reports “for information only,” but the BRT is there for those who want action.
When people file reports, the BRT contacts them even if the report is marked “for information only.” If the person who reported the incident wants action, the BRT assigns one of about nine “advocates” to the case. The advocates work with the individual to decide what action will be taken and then provide support throughout the process.
From there, the action taken depends on each individual situation. Co-coordinator Chicora Martin said the BRT tries to respond to reports of bias in a way that creates a safe, open atmosphere.
“It’s very much directed by the target of the bias,” Martin said. “It’s focused on recognizing it’s not up to them to do everything. They should feel comfortable with what is done.”
Martin said many situations do not just impact the person who files the report, so the BRT attempts to address “community needs” as well.
If the person who filed the report is comfortable with it, the BRT might contact other groups affected by the incident or work with the person the complaint is about.
University student Ty Schwoeffermann said he has filed a grievance with the BRT and found the process to be positive and supportive.
Schwoeffermann said he was contacted by the BRT within a few days of filing his grievance. He was able to meet with a counselor, who spoke with Schwoeffermann about the details of the incident and asked him how he wanted to approach a follow-up.
“I thought it was great because it’s kind of an unconventional way to deal with unconventional problems,” Schwoeffermann said, adding the process allowed him to decide what he felt comfortable doing and what he wanted the BRT to do.
“It’s a really supportive process the whole way through,” he said.
Martin said the BRT was created to deal with situations that do not violate any laws or the Student Conduct Code, but which make students feel unsafe on campus.
For example, last year the BRT received a report from a student who was upset because another student made a perceived homophobic remark in class. The BRT worked with the instructor, who then spoke to the class on how to be more sensitive, Martin said.
Martin said working with faculty or other students in situations such as this helps people understand each other’s feelings and creates a more welcome space.
“It’s a powerful opportunity for people to engage,” she said.
The BRT has a council made up of about 20 members from various campus departments. The council meets once a term to discuss cases and goals for the term. Martin said the goal is to have as many departments as possible represented so the BRT can address specific issues and “think about things in a global way.”
Recently, the BRT has been working hard to get out its message and educate the campus community about what it does. Bright red posters around campus display the group’s contact information as well as information on how to file a bias response report, and new brochures in the office outline how the BRT functions.
The BRT spent all of fall and winter terms working on the new materials, which Martin said will help inform the campus about the group. Martin said the decision to start creating new materials was spurred by the idea that the message needed to get out.
“I want to see a campus community that values difference, that welcomes our community, and that sets community values of how we should treat each other,” she wrote in an e-mail interview.
Schwoeffermann said the process of working with the BRT was helpful because the counselors who work for the group have experience working in a lot of different areas.
“It was nice knowing I had some kind of agency with some kind of ability to decide what steps would be taken,” he said. “I felt like they took it as though it was extremely serious, which was great.”
During the 2005-06 school year, the BRT responded to two “major incidents” involving free speech issues. Each of these incidents led to several complaints.
One incident involved a presentation by an anti-abortion group called the “Genocide Awareness Project (GAP).” The GAP campaign includes graphic photographs of aborted fetuses. The BRT received 67 individual reports related to the GAP project, the report reads.
The BRT also received “a variety of reports” about the printing of controversial cartoons of Mohammed in The Commentator and Jesus in The Insurgent.
Martin said when incidents arise that involve free speech issues, the BRT does not try to restrict speech but tries to counter it by distributing its flyers.
The group also tries to leave its literature in areas where incidents have occurred, Martin said. Stickers reading “Hate graffiti was removed from this location” and displaying the BRT’s contact information are placed on spots where offensive graffiti is found.
Martin said the fact that offensive statements are protected by free speech doesn’t mean the BRT can’t address how the speech affects others.
“I think we underestimate the power of having those conversations and engaging people around the concepts of civility and being citizens on our campus,” she said.
Martin said she wants the BRT to be an organization that is constantly available for the campus community.
“One of the things we hear is that the BRT doesn’t have any teeth,” she said. “It’s not about teeth.”
Martin said the BRT is a place to hold people accountable for incidents that do not violate any official law or code and that those who have filed reports told the BRT they were glad to have a place to go.
“That was an option that wouldn’t be available to them in any other place,” she said. “The value of doing this is under-estimated.”
The BRT will soon be giving people who have filed reports another outlet to tell their stories. People who are willing to come forward can tell their stories on a DVD the BRT plans to produce in fall.
Martin wrote in an e-mail the video project came out of an idea to provide people a space to share their experiences.
“In that it might provide some assistance for individuals as they heal from the experiences, it can be helpful to know that an (sic) people in the BRT want to listen and be supportive in whatever way possible,” she wrote. Schwoeffermann said the BRT is important because collecting data on bias incidents could help show the need to provide more resources and support for students who feel they are targets of bias.
“Obviously they need to get the word out more,” he said. “I think a lot of people might be intimidated by it, but it’s actually a really easy process. The people who do it are really supportive – I really encourage people to file grievances.”
He said it is helpful for the University to know when people feel targeted.
“These things are really important to talk about,” he said.
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Bias reports on campus
In 2005-06, there were 66 reported incidents of bias filed with the Bias Response Team. Although there were only 66 single incidents, several individual reports were filed for some of the incidents. A breakdown of the type of reports follows (the numbers in parentheses reflect reports made of a single incident):
? Race/Ethnicity: 24
? Sexual Orientation: 11
? Sex/Gender: 6 (8)
? Gender Identification/Gender Expression: 2
? Religion: 5 (37)
? Nationality: 2
? Ability: 7
? Social Class: 1
? Other: 9 (67)
Have you been a target of bias?</ strong>
Students who feel they have been targets of bias can contact the Bias Response Team in several ways.
? Online at http://bias.uoregon.edu
? In person at the Office of Student Life in 164 Oregon Hall
? With a report form found at several locations around campus, including but not limited to, the Multicultural Center; Women’s Center; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Alliance; MEChA; YWCA; University Health Center; Academic Advising; and Department of Public Safety.