BIAS Team

If this is an emergency or you are the victim of a crime, please contact Campus Security and Public Safety immediately at (509) 313-2222.

Our Mission 

Gonzaga University strives to be an exemplary learning community in service of the common good for the development of the whole person. Gonzaga University’s mission states that the “Gonzaga experience fosters a mature commitment to dignity of the human person, social justice, diversity, [and] intercultural competence….” Therefore, the University values and embraces our rich community of people who represent a wide spectrum of faiths, ethnicities, cultures, identities, and backgrounds.

To that end, the Bias Incident Assessment and Support (BIAS) Team is committed to fostering a campus environment where everyone feels safe and respected. We include within that commitment a desire to uphold everyone’s right to freedom of expression. Our responsibilities include supporting people and groups who experience bias incidents (defined below), monitoring and reporting on those incidents, and recommending educational initiatives to minimize bias.

Understanding Bias

The BIAS team will collect reports on bias incidents and hate crimes.

• A hate crime is a criminal offense against an individual, a group of people, or property motivated, in whole or in part, by an offender’s bias against a disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religion, or sexual orientation.
• A bias incident, on the other hand, is non-criminal conduct, speech, or expression motivated, in whole or in part, by bias or prejudice against an individual or group of people because of their real or perceived characteristics.

The exchange of ideas and free expression of multiple viewpoints is essential for our community. Ideas, perspectives, and conduct that some find offensive, insulting, controversial, or inflammatory may not necessarily rise to the level of bias-related incidents or hate crimes. Our commitment to openness and free expression, however, does not protect harassment or expressions of bias or hate based on social identity.

How to Report

If this is an emergency or you are the victim of a crime, please contact Campus Security and Public Safety immediately at (509) 313-2222.

Anyone may report a bias incident to: www.gonzaga.edu/reportbias

The BIAS Team will review all online reports and reach out within two business days if requested in the report and contact information is provided. It is best to report an incident as early as possible.

It is important to talk to someone if you are the target or witness of a bias incident. A list of BIAS Team members and resources can be found below at the end of this page.

If possible, preserve any evidence and document the incident as thoroughly as possible:

• Photograph graffiti / written material.
• Maintain a copy of a phone, text, or email messages.
• Accurately document and date what was verbalized.

You may also report the incident anonymously. Anonymous reporting, however, may impact the University’s ability to pursue appropriate action.

Non-anonymous reports are managed as sensitively and confidentially as possible in that only essential personnel will be involved in responding to the incident.

What Happens Now?

1. Once a report is received, it is reviewed by the Co-Chairs of the BIAS Team and the Chief Diversity Officer.
2. If the reporting party is known and requests a response, the BIAS Team will reach out within two business days to schedule a meeting.
3. Any, or a combination of the following three actions, may result:
4. If follow-up is not possible or necessary, then no further action is pursued.
5. All bias incident reports are archived to help track and improve campus climate.

*If the incident is egregious, violates University policy, and/or there is an established pattern of behavior, then the BIAS Team will forward the report to the appropriate campus department, such as Human Resources or the Resolution Center for Student Conduct and Conflict. If the incident may constitute a hate crime, then the report will also be shared with Campus Security & Public Safety and/or local law enforcement. 

As a group dedicated to support and education, the BIAS Team has offered the following responses to bias incidents:

• Recommendation of resources and support services
• Community messaging (e.g. to a classroom, academic department, college or school, residence hall, etc.)
• BIAS Team holds an educational conversation with the initiator
• Referral to another office (Please note that the BIAS Team is not an investigative, disciplinary, or crisis response team. Other campus departments, such as Campus Security & Public Safety, Human Resources, and the Resolution Center for Student Conduct & Conflict, provide these functions.)
• Coaching (e.g. role playing with the reporting party to have a direct conversation with the initiator, offering guidance and feedback, etc.)

Past Reports 

Resources

If this is an emergency or you are the victim of a crime, please contact Campus Security and Public Safety immediately at (509) 313-2222.