Addressing Hate Crimes and Bias Incidents
The University of Michigan is deeply concerned about campus climate and issues of bias and hate, particularly around race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin and ancestry, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status and personal characteristics . Division of Student Affairs staff have been and will continue to reach out to students and student communities to offer support and obtain feedback on how we can improve the campus climate. Students have informed us that many in the campus community are not familiar with existing mechanisms for reporting and receiving support for incidents of bias and hate, or with the outreach and educational efforts currently underway to support a more positive campus climate.
This webpage is designed to make you aware of current reporting mechanisms within the Division of Student Affairs for hate crimes and bias incidents, and to inform you of a wide array of outreach and education efforts currently underway.
Please feel free to bring any suggestions for improving campus climate, related concerns, or suggestions about the campus to the attention of the Dean of Students Advisory Group at deanofstudents@umich.edu.
Reporting a Hate Crime or Bias Incident
In an emergency, dial 9-1-1 to be connected with the Department of Public Safety (on-campus) or the Ann Arbor Police Department (off-campus).
In a non-emergency, contact U-M's Centralized Phone Line for Reporting Hate Crimes and Bias Incidents: 734-615-BIAS (2427).
- You may also contact any Division of Student Affairs office including:
- Counseling & Psychological Services – 764-8312 / www.umich.edu/~caps/
- Dean of Students Office – 764-7420 / www.umich.edu/~dofs/
- International Center – 764-9310 / www.umich.edu/~icenter/
- Spectrum Center (LGBTA) – 763-4186 / http://spectrumcenter.umich.edu/
- Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs – 763-9044 / www.umich.edu/~mesamss/
- Services for Students with Disabilities – 763-3000 / www.umich.edu/~sswd/
- Sexual Assault Prevention & Awareness Center – 998-9368 / www.umich.edu/~sapac/
- Student Activities & Leadership – 763-5900 or www.umich.edu/~salead/
- Ombuds Office – 763-3545 / www.umich.edu/~ombuds/
- Office of Student Conflict Resolution – 936-6308 / www.umich.edu/~oscr/
- University Housing - speak with your coordinator of residence education, resident director, resident advisor, minority peer advisor/assistant or academic peer advisor, or download www.housing.umich.edu/pdfs/BiasProtocol.pdf for more information.
Downloadable Resource Flyer (PDF) - Click here for a downloadable flyer with current Student Affairs report and support resources.
Current Efforts - Outreach
Campus Safety & Security Advisory Committee (CSSAC) - President Mary Sue Coleman charged CSSAC to consider ways to address hate incidents and make recommendations. These issues are at the top of CSSAC’s agenda, and final recommendations are expected by December 2005.
Several UM departments have been meeting with, learning from, and providing support services to students and student communities that have been directly affected by recent and ongoing campus climate issues and concerns around bias and intolerance . Those areas reaching out include the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, Dean of Students Office, Office of the Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Office of the Vice President for Communications, Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs, Office of Academic & Multicultural Initiatives, Department of Public Safety, Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Affairs, Office of Student Conflict Resolution and others.
Department of Public Safety - The Department of Public Safety and other UM departments have been meeting with students of color representatives to hear and respond to their concerns about campus climate and issues of bias and hate. UM areas attending those meetings include the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Dean of Students Office, Office of the Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs, Office of Academic & Multicultural Initiatives, Office of the Vice President for Communications, and others.
Organizing for Unity (OFU) - Supported in part by the Office of LGBT Affairs, OFU is a community partnership of LGBT and Ally organizations, working to fight hate and homophobia. The group formed in response to the November 19, 2005 protest by Rev. Fred Phelps of the School of Music's Production of The Laramie Project, a creative work that emerged from a series of interviews following the brutal beating death of Matthew Shepard. More information about OFU can be found at www.sitemaker.umich.edu/orgforunity/.
Current Efforts - Education
Anti-hate Awareness and Education Campaign - Several UM offices, students and others are currently working to develop a campus-wide, anti-hate awareness and education campaign. This effort will include a website, posters and other materials to articulate our values and direct community members to campus resources for reporting and responding to bias-related incidents. The Dean of Students Advisory Group, which includes several student representatives, has reviewed early mock-ups of posters and provided feedback. Any suggestions you may have should be sent to deanofstudents@umich.edu.
Creating a Healthy and New Generation of Equality (CHANGE) - The CHANGE events, which began this fall as a series of educational and social events during Welcome Week, are designed to celebrate and appreciate the diversity of the campus community. Ongoing CHANGE events are being planned by students and various UM departments. Those involved in sponsoring and developing CHANGE include the Office of the Provost, Division of Student Affairs, colleges of Engineering and LS&A, Dean of Students Office, Office of New Student Programs, Office of Student Activities & Leadership, University Housing-Residence Education, Michigan Student Assembly, Office of LGBT Affairs, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Residence Halls Association, Ginsberg Center for Community Service & Learning, Intergroup Relations and Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs.
M-Justice Website and Calendar - The M-Justice website is a new forum for highlighting opportunities for UM students that involve social justice education and action reflecting the principles and values of the Division of Student Affairs and the university as a whole. These opportunities include those offered by the sponsoring offices as well as numerous activities organized and funded by student groups and student communities. Activities include leadership retreats, community service and engagement opportunities, speaker's bureau panels, intergroup dialogues, and a variety of workshops and sessions addressing social identity and social justice. More information is available at www.umich.edu/~mjustice/.
Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs (MESA) Workshops - MESA and the Trotter Multicultural Center work continually to improve intercultural competences for all UM students by creating opportunities for meaningful cross-cultural interaction and learning. They support racial and ethnic identity and provide services and programs to meet students’ needs and campus climate concerns that have and continue to emerge. A schedule of daylong workshops for faculty, staff and students is being arranged for January / February 2006. Topics will include hate and bias, diversity and means for discussing controversial issues. These workshops are pilots and, following evaluation, are expected to become part of routine educational training.
MESA Advisory Council - As part of the recent recommendations made by the Trotter Advisory Council, MESA has established an ongoing advisory council that will determine mechanisms for gathering community input and feedback on the work of MESA and the Trotter Multicultural Center. The Council will also offer advice on educational programming that will be beneficial to all members of the campus community.
Student Organizations and Recognition (SOAR) Committee - The new SOAR recommendations address the status of student organizations’ relationship to the University, as well as recommendations for best practices. These include definitions and expected standards for student organizations, which involve issues of non-discrimination, bias and intolerance.