Our quarterly report of bias incidents reported in the fourth quarter of 2016 (October, November, December) is below.
Bias Incident Reports for Fourth Quarter of 2016
- A total of five incidents were reported in the 4th quarter of 2016.
- Three of the reported incidents were reported as discrimination on the basis of race, one was reported as discrimination on the basis of religion, and one was reported as discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
- Following reviews for each reported incident, it was determined that there were insufficient facts presented to move ahead with formal investigations.
- Please note that a majority of complaints filed did not name a specific respondent.
- Following the reports filed in the 4th quarter, additional programming was introduced on campus, including a forum titled: “A Call to Action: Creating a No Place for Hate Campus.”
- The report for the first quarter of 2017 (January, February and March) is due to be released on April 15.
Salem State Policies on Discrimination and Bias
Discriminatory harassment is not tolerated at Salem State University. Conduct (verbal and/or physical) that constitutes such harassment is targeted against a person based on her/his membership in a protected class (race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender expression, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy, or status as a disabled veteran, a Vietnam era veteran or other covered veterans) and is sufficiently severe to deny or limit a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from her/his educational program. (See university’s Equal Opportunity, Diversity and Affirmative Action Policy and Procedures here). A bias incident is conduct, speech or expression that is motivated by bias based on the person’s group status but which does not involve criminal behavior.
Community members involved in discriminatory harassment will be subject to investigation by the Office of Human Resources and Equal Opportunity and/or to the appropriate student conduct disciplinary process. Acts that meet the definition of a hate crime will also be referred to the Salem State University Police Department or other law enforcement agencies as appropriate.
Individuals can help combat discrimination and acts of bias by being proactive in reporting such incidents as soon as they occur. You can also combat discrimination and acts of bias by being an ally to targeted communities and to actively take leadership in shaping and promoting our core SSU value of inclusive excellence.
When there is an immediate risk to personal safety on campus, call University Police at 978.542.6111 (or 6111 from an on-campus land line). If you are off-campus, call 911.
Reporting of Bias Incidents
Students, staff, faculty members, visitors, vendors, and contractors who experience or become aware of a possible hate crime or bias incident are asked to report the crime or incident immediately to a designated college office or official. The official process for reporting a bias incident is to contact Mark Quigley, Assistant Vice President for the Office of Human Resources and Equal Opportunity, at 978.542.6078 or mquigley@salemstate.edu. To report non-emergency incidents that are believed to be motivated by bias, submit a report to the Mark Quigley, Assistant Vice President and EEO Officer at mquigley@salemstate.edu or by telephone at 978.542.6078. Federal law protects the privacy of those who report to the university as victims of or witnesses to these incidents.
We encourage you to report such incidents to any faculty or staff member with whom you are comfortable. Faculty and Staff are directed to then notify Assistant Vice President Mark Quigley who will ensure that an investigation is initiated by the appropriate investigative official and will notify the Assistant Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students, Carla Tharp, PhD.
Additional individuals whom you might approach about such concerns include:
- SSU Police: 978.542.6111 (available 24/7)
- Assistant Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students, Carla Panzella, PhD: 978.542.6401
- Vice President for Diversity & Inclusion, Lisa McBride, PhD: 978.542.3022
- Title IX Coordinator, Siobhain Feeney 978.542.2985
- Director of Diversity & Multicultural Affairs, Rebecca Comage: 978.542.2404