overview of uw-l reported hate incidents

The Hate Response Team meets regularly to update an annual, living document of UW-L reported hate/bias incidents for public interest. These documents are a means to remain transparent about our climate and encourage healthy discourse.

As you view the following overview of reports, it is important to note:

• The Hate Response Team will publish as much as deemed appropriate, based on confidentiality and privacy concerns and safety, as well as the expressed preferences from the people involved.
• Any action taken in response to hate/bias incident reports may or may not be reported based on confidentiality, privacy and the nature of whether there was any request for action.
• Actions steps and response efforts are ongoing.
• First amendment rights of all members of this community are respected in this process. UW System Legal Counsel is also consulted when needed to ensure any response taken does not infringe upon the freedom of expression.
• The information in this document reflects all reports submitted, however, not all may fit our definition of a hate/bias incident and consequently may be excluded from the end of year report.
• Definition of the different types of hate/bias incidents, as determined by the Hate Response Team, can be found below.

Academic Year 2012-13 Report

Past End of Year Reports

• AY 2011/12
• AY 2010/11
• AY 2009/10
• AY 2008/09
• AY 2007/08
• AY 2006/07
  
  

Type of Incident - Definitions

Individually Directed
"Individually Directed" means that hateful/biased language was directed at a specific individual or individuals based on their actual or perceived identity.

Group Directed
"Group Directed" means that hateful or biased language was used in reference to an identity group (race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, gender identity, etc.) in general, but was not directed at a particular person or people.

Statement
“Statement” includes not only words that are spoken, but also instances where hateful messages are conveyed using sign language, gestures, or similar forms of direct interpersonal communication.

Graffiti/Vandalism
“Graffiti/Vandalism” includes messages written, or symbols drawn in any medium where the message remains visible for a time after it has been left. While some incidents in this category may or may not meet the legal definition of vandalism—such as writings on whiteboards or chalkings that can be erased—they still have a discriminatory impact and are counted in our report.

Electronic Message
“Electronic message” includes email, text messages, messages sent using Facebook or other social media, voice mail, and any other electronic communication between individuals.

Published Media
“Published Media” includes newspapers, newsletters, or flyers, as well as other examples like t-shirts where a message is duplicated and distributed to the public on a large-scale basis. This may also include some form of online communication like public websites or blogs.

Physical Violence
“Physical Violence” refers to any conduct which causes (or creates a substantial risk of) bodily injury to a person. This would include beatings and physical assaults, all instances of sexual assault (regardless of whether physical force is used), as well as arson and other kinds of conduct.  

Threat of Violence
“Threats of violence” are words or actions that express or imply an intention or plan to cause physical harm to another person. This category includes what the Supreme Court has called “True Threats” (which are not protected under the First Amendment). It also includes a broader range of threatening language that may or may not be illegal, but which we track because it creates a climate of fear or hostility for members of the targeted group, such as a sign on a residence hall room saying “Rape Cave”, or symbols like nooses.

Harassment
“Harassment” refers to conduct directed against one or more persons because of their identity (race, ethnicity, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability, etc.). It could include a single severe instance or a repeated pattern of less severe instances that, taken as a whole, create a hostile climate for the targeted individual(s).

Discriminatory Conduct
This category includes unfair treatment by people in positions of authority, or by peers, based on the identity of the targeted individual(s). Examples could include unfair grading, police profiling, or any other denial of the right to benefit equally from opportunities including education, employment, housing, access to services, etc.

Other Hate/Bias Incident
This category captures hate/bias incidents that didn’t necessarily fit any of the above categories.

Non Hate/Bias Incident
This category captures incidents that didn’t necessarily fit UW-L’s definition of a hate/bias incident.