Understanding and Reporting Equity Related Grievances
An equity grievance report may be related to an experience of sexual violence such as rape, sexual harassment, stalking or intimate partner violence or it may be a bias-related incident. A bias-related incident is characterized as a behavior or act – verbal, written, or physical – that is personally directed against or targets an individual or group based on perceived or actual characteristics such as race, religion, hearing status, color, sex, pregnancy, political affiliation, religion, creed, ethnicity, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship status, physical or mental disability, body size, age, marital status, family relationship, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status (including special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran, or recently separated veteran,) predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status or any other protected category under applicable local, state or federal law.
This form is received by the Office of Equity Grievance. Each reporting party receives outreach from Confidential Advising to offer a meeting to discuss potential next steps, resources, and accommodations. Anyone can choose to remain anonymous or confidential. Each Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Report will be triaged in the Office of Equity Grievance, the appropriate individual will coordinate a response and communicate with the University when needed. If the content of the report does not include issues managed by the Office of Equity Grievance the report will be sent to the appropriate office on campus such as the Dean of Students, Human Resources, or the Student Health and Wellness Center.
Examples of Incidents of sexual violence or bias:
- Continuing to pursue someone romantically when they have expressed they are not interested
- Defacing or vandalizing property with hate based symbols or language
- Rape
- Online or social commenting toward an individual or group that is biased or derogatory
- Language or imagery objectifying a specific gender, race, religion etc.
- Denial of participation in an event or gathering based on identity such as military status, body size, or ability
- Use of power, control, threat or violence in an intimate relationship
What Happens to My Incident Report?
Above graphic text:
- Incident Report Submitted
- Incident Reviewed by Office of Equity Grievance
- Incident BIAS related?
- If no then “Referral made to corresponding office”
- If Yes then “Is the Incident a Potential crime?”
- If No “Reporting Party will receive support, information about campus remedies and accommodations. Decision will be made on broader communication.”
- Then “Response from Office of Equity Grievance”
- If Yes “Information and support for reporting to law enforcement will be provide. If it is a hate crime or potential danger to the community, an all campus notification will be provided. Reporting party will receive support, information about campus remedies and accommodations.”
- Then “Response from Office of Equity Grievance”
- If No “Reporting Party will receive support, information about campus remedies and accommodations. Decision will be made on broader communication.”
- Potential Outcomes (each of the four outcomes have arrows pointing back and forth amongst each other)
- Information Only Report
- Accommodations & Support
- Investigation
- Education for Individual; Dept. & Campus
- Then “Documentation/ Review/ Analysis”
- Then “All Reports Documented & Counted”
- Then “Reviewed in Aggerate by: Bias Repose Review; Sexual Violence Response Review; Cabinet”
- Then “Trends are Identified & Addressed”
- Then “Reviewed in Aggerate by: Bias Repose Review; Sexual Violence Response Review; Cabinet”
- Then “All Reports Documented & Counted”