Online form allows students to report hate crimes, bigotry, bias
The Midwest has a reputation for being kind and friendly.
However, some students at NDSU still experience bias, bigotry and hate crimes while on campus, according to a climate survey conducted at NDSU in 2003.
“ Based on our climate survey and anecdotal evidence that we’ve gotten from people, I think it’s more common than we would think,” said Kara Stack, assistant director of service learning and member of the President’s Diversity Council.
After the climate survey results came back, it was decided that an online form — available only to students, faculty and staff with an NDSU ID — would be created as a way for students to report instances of bias or bigotry, and as a way for NDSU to collect data on the types of incidents occurring on campus.
“ I think if people begin to recognize that those things happen, then they pay more attention, and the next step is for people to take some responsibility,” said Sandy Holbrook, director of the Office for Equity and Diversity.
Stack said the most common types of discrimination experienced by people on campus are more passive behaviors, including staring, nonverbal messages, or being ignored in class. Occurring the least, however, are physical hate crimes, including assault.
The online form would be strictly confidential, unless the person chooses to identify him or herself. If students reveal their names on the form, someone from the counseling center or Office for Equity and Diversity may follow up to ensure victims’ needs are met, Holbrook said.
“We want to make sure people know that once they log in, the responses we get are confidential; we don’t keep it linked to a person’s log-in,” Stack said.
While postings may lead to a grievance being filed, the form is not meant to take the place of filing a formal grievance, but it is “more a way for us to collect data and get ideas of how often these kinds of incidents are happening and if they’re happening around certain areas of diversity,” Stack said.
The Web-based form, available at www.ndsu.edu/equal_opportunity, will be accompanied by its paper counterpart, which will be available in highly visible areas, such as the Library or Union. These forms should be turned in to the Office for Equity and Diversity in 202 Old Main.
The data will be collected over one year and will be released primarily in terms of the number and types of events occurring, Holbrook said. Having the data available will help increase awareness of such events and may also help to alleviate some of them, Holbrook also said.
“ I think it’s a big step forward toward us responding to problems that we’ve heard about but may not (have been) actually reported,” Stack said.