RESPONDING to BIGOTRY and INTERGROUP STRIFE on CAMPUS A Guide for College and University Presidents and Senior Administrators ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE Glen S. Lewy, National Chair Abraham H. Foxman, National Director Kenneth Jacobson, Deputy National Director David Millstone, Chair, Education Committee Ed S. Alster, Director, Education Division Marvin Nathan, Chair, Civil Rights Committee Deborah Lauter, National Civil Rights Director Stacey Berkowitz, Director, Campus & Confronting Anti-Semitism Initiatives Deborah Cohen, Assistant Director of Legal Affairs © 2008 Anti-Defamation League 605 Third Avenue New York, NY 10158-3560 (212) 885-7700 www.adl.org Printed in the United States of America All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Anti-Defamation League and A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE® Institute are registered trademarks of the Anti-Defamation League. Copies of this publication are in the Rita and Leo Greenland Library and Research Center. 2 Anti-Defamation League: Responding to Bigotry and Intergroup Strife on Campus Contents Introduction FOREWORD 5 DEDICATION 7 The ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE 9 INTRODUCTION 11 How Hate Esculates on Campus GLOSSARY of TERMS 15 HATE CRIMES and BIAS INCIDENTS 17 The Special Nature of Hate Violence 18 Key Indicators of Bias Motivation 19 Strategies for Effective Investigation 21 Suggested Intervention When Dealing with Hate on Campus 22 HOW HATE ESCALATES ON CAMPUS 29 PYRAMID OF HATE 30 Free Speech, Intergroup Strife and Hate on Campus FREE SPEECH, INTERGROUP STRIFE, and HATE ON CAMPUS 31 Hate and the Campus Media 32 Speech Codes in University Policies 34 Speech in the Classroom 36 Extremist Speakers on Campus 42 Speech at Rallies and Protests 47 Vandalism and Graffiti 50 Hate on the Internet 54 Developing Collaborative Programs with International Universities 60 Taking Action Against Hate TAKING ACTION AGAINST HATE 63 Respond to Specific Events 64 Develop Proactive Strategies 65 Improve the Campus Culture 66 Develop Clear Grievance Procedures 66 Appendix APPENDIX A: Statements from Presidents & Administrators 71 On Racism 72 On Anti-Semitism 80 On Homophobia and Heterosexism 83 On Discrimination Based on Gender Identity 88 On Islamophobia 90 On Fighting Bigotry 94 On Diversity 97 On Addressing Current Events 101 On Changing Campus Culture 103 APPENDIX B: A Campus of Difference™ 109 APPENDIX C: Campus Security Hate Crimes Training 113 APPENDIX D: Examples of College Policies 115 ENDNOTES 152 Contents 3 4 Anti-Defamation League: Responding to Bigotry and Intergroup Strife on Campus Foreword The university traditionally has served as an enclave for intellectual expression, insulated from the distractions of the world outside. It also has served as a trendsetter for the larger society, a laboratory where social change first begins to ferment and find an outlet. The campus has been seen as a community of established and aspiring scholars, freed from the prejudices of the larger society, who enjoyed the luxury of pursuing an unburdened intellectual life. As such, the campus of our romantic ideal has been one of the very last places where bigotry would be expected to find a home. The reality on some campuses today, unfortunately, is far from ideal. Students, faculty and staff are subjected to verbal and physical harassment based on their actual or perceived race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or other identity groups. Such hatred comes from influences and attitudes outside the campus as well as from individuals and elements from within the institution. Academia, in this regard, has become both a mirror of the larger society and a place where bigotry is reflected into surrounding communities. Prejudice is not simply a frustration on campus, but a significant threat to the integrity of academic institutions and a formidable challenge to their ability to carry out their core educational mission. College and university presidents and senior administrators are key players in the fight against bigotry on campus. Campus leaders set the overall tone of the university and serve as the role models students, faculty, and the larger community look to for guidance in times of crisis. Therefore, it is essential that university administrators take a strong leadership role when hatred and bigotry surfaces on campus to ensure the safety and well-being of students, faculty and staff and to maintain the integrity of the institution. Building upon its long history and experience in combating all forms of bigotry on and off campus, the Anti-Defamation League produced the second edition of the Responding to Bigotry and Intergroup Strife on Campus Guide to provide comprehensive assistance to leaders of the academic community. The Guide begins with background information on hate crimes and incidents, followed by sections that deal with specific campus scenarios relevant to free speech, bias and diversity. Each section includes legal background and analysis, specific action steps and examples of presidential statements that have proven to be effective responses in similar scenarios. Included in the Appendix are examples of presidential statements divided by the motivation behind the incident, such as racism, anti-Semitism and homophobia. Finally, the Guide offers a prospectus of anti-bias education programs available through ADL’s acclaimed A CAMPUS OF DIFFERENCE™ diversity training program, as well as examples of college and university policies that have been enacted to fight and prevent acts of hate. We trust you will find this Guide to be a valuable tool in your ongoing work to make your campus, and the larger community, a better and more fruitful place for all of us to live and work. ADL remains committed to its goal of being an accessible resource for the campus community in fighting hate and in developing educational programs to help prevent it. With best regards, Glen S. Lewy, National Chair Abraham H. Foxman, National Director Foreword 5 6 Anti-Defamation League: Responding to Bigotry and Intergroup Strife on Campus Dedication Dr. Jeffrey Ross, the Anti-Defamation League’s former Director of Campus/Higher Education Affairs, passed away suddenly on July 8, 2003. Jeffrey Ross dedicated 19 years of his life to combating anti-Semitism and hate crimes on college and university campuses throughout the United States. One of Jeffrey’s most significant contributions to combating bigotry on campus is the first edition of this publication: Responding to Bigotry and Intergroup Strife on Campus: A Guide for College and University Presidents and Senior Administrators, a comprehensive publication designed to provide concrete advice to senior campus administrators on combating hate on campus. With an update of his original publication, we honor him and his life’s work with campus communities to help them establish safe and nurturing learning environments that promote respect, understanding, freedom of speech and the value of diversity. Jeffrey took the most pride and joy in interacting with students and staff, speaking about these issues of acceptance and the need for continued dialogue on campuses throughout the country. His experience enabled him to put each incident into its proper perspective, reacting appropriately and offering just the right counsel. He was always careful to distinguish between valid political speech and campus hatred and hate crimes. In situations when others might have overreacted, Jeffrey provided a calming influence, responding professionally and effectively. The Anti-Defamation League and campus communities across the United States miss Jeffrey’s clarity and guidance in handling issues of bigotry and diversity on campus. At the Anti-Defamation League, we are dedicated to continuing his vision of college campus life free from bias and bigotry—a place where everyone is accepted and respected in our most treasured learning communities. Dedication 7 8 Anti-Defamation League: Responding to Bigotry and Intergroup Strife on Campus The Anti-Defamation League The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is one of the nation’s premier civil rights and human relations agencies. When ADL was established in 1913, its charter stated: “The immediate object of the League is to stop, by appeals to reason and conscience, and if necessary, by appeals to law, the defamation of the Jewish people. Its ultimate purpose is to secure justice and fair treatment to all citizens alike and to put an end forever to unjust and unfair discrimination against and ridicule of any sect or body of citizens.” With this charter, ADL called for a society in which all minority groups would be granted the same rights of freedom from discrimination traditionally enjoyed by the majority. ADL’s long-term commitment to fighting anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry is the basis for all of its anti-bias initiatives. Today, ADL’s offices in the United States and abroad work to secure justice and equitable treatment for all people through information, education, legislation and advocacy. Its Legal Affairs staff files amicus briefs and advocates for civil rights policy and against discrimination. (For example, 45 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws similar to or based on the ADL model hate crime statute, which may enhance penalties when crimes are committed because of a victim’s immutable identity, such as race,