What is a Bias Incident?

A bias incident is an act of prejudice against an individual or groups based on their actual or perceived race/color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity/expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, and/or veteran or military status. 

Examples may include vandalism to personal or university property, intimidating comments or messages, defacement of posters or signs, or similar acts, if there is evidence that the target or victim was chosen because of a characteristic such as those listed above.

DePauw University values the freedom to examine and discuss all questions of interest and expressions of opinions publicly and privately. Thus, it is important to note that just because the expression of an idea or point of view may be offensive or inflammatory to some, may not necessarily be a bias-related incident.

Political affiliation is not a protected class. If you experience harassment or threats based on political affiliation, please submit your concerns to the Student Academic Life office.

Note: All hate crimes are bias incidents, but not all bias incidents are hate crimes. Even if a bias incident is not a crime, we can and will respond to address hurtful behavior.

A Hate Crime is a criminal offense that manifests evidence that the victim was intentionally selected because of the perpetrator’s bias against the victim (The Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting, 2016 Edition).

Indiana’s Law on Hate Crime: Can be found here

The University encourages a workplace and learning environment free of discrimination, harassment, and/or inappropriate treatment and does not condone or tolerate any inappropriate conduct of any employee, student or guest because of any person's race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, disability, or any category protected under federal, state or local law. To be unlawful, conduct must be sufficiently serious that it unreasonably interferes with an employee's ability to work or a student's ability to learn or benefit from the University's programming.

The University also recognizes the fundamental importance of the open and free exchange of ideas and opinions. It recognizes that conflicts may arise between individuals' desires to express their opinions and the right of individuals to be free from harassment. The University also recognizes that every act that might be offensive to an individual or a group is not necessarily a violation of the law or of this policy.

You can read more about the University’s Harassment Policy (including sexual and gender-based harassment) in both the Student Handbook and Academic Handbook.

Note:  Not all bias incidents constitute harassment under these policies. However, even if a bias incident does not constitute harassment, we can and will respond to address hurtful behavior and to support the targeted individual or group.

Have you experienced an incident of bias? We want to know about it. Specific offices and administrators are here to support you. Responses to this form are kept confidential.

Report Here