Hate and Bias

Hate and bias incidents are acts of conduct, speech, or expression that target individuals and groups based on their real or perceived membership in a protected category or protected characteristic.

Bias incidents are non-criminal acts of conduct, speech, or expression that target individuals and groups based on certain protected characteristics. Some bias incidents may violate University policies, while others may not be severe enough to violate policy or may be protected expressions of speech.

These incidents become hate crimes when they:

1. result in injury, however slight;
2. include verbal threats of violence that apparently can be carried out; or
3. result in property damage.

For additional information on Discrimination regarding your options and support resources, please see the Report Hate and Bias website.

What Do Hate and Bias Incidents Look Like?

Examples of explicit hate and bias incidents include:

•  A public speaker who makes homophobic comments about members of the LGBT     community
•   Anti-Semitic or Islamaphobic flyers posted on campus
•   Verbal insults directed toward a person of color

Reporting Hate and Bias Incidents

Some bias incidents may violate University Nondiscrimination policies, the Student Conduct Code or other University policies. Other acts of bias may not violate law or policy or may, in fact, be protected expressions of speech. Protecting freedom of expression, including controversial speech, and sometimes even offensive or hurtful words, is vital to our commitment to teaching and learning. Nevertheless, we encourage reporting bias incidents so the University can determine if policies have been violated and support persons who feel victimized.

Additional information, including instructions on how to report a bias incident, can be found at http://reporthateandbias.ucdavis.edu