Bias Incident Reports

During the late morning of Wednesday, Feb.  20,  a poster containing an anti-Semitic trope were identified in a couple of the residential houses (Main and Noyes).  The flyer contained a drawing of an elected official and the words “Stand with Ilhan Omar. Reject AIPAC's Hold on US Congress.”    

The BIRT core team met on May 21 to discuss a posting on a social media site with a "Vassar" name attached, which was reported by a student. The team reviewed the subtleties and the possible interpretations of the meaning of various words used in the posting. Because of the perspectival nature of these interpretations, the team determined that the posting could not be categorized as a bias incident.

On the evening of Saturday, March 3, two students reported to Safety & Security that a piece of frayed rope was observed in a tree on the pathway near the ALANA Center, the Old Laundry Building and the Powerhouse Theater.  The rope was removed by Safety & Security and a report was forwarded to several administrators.  Additionally, the Bias Incident Response Team was contacted and the Dean of the College toured the area thoroughly and documented all secured and unsecured ropes in the vicinity. The Director of the ALANA Center and the Associate Dean of the College/Coordinator of BIRT contacted students to obtain more information, photos were taken, and the report was reviewed.  While there is no indication that the rope was due to foul play or signifies an act of bias and was possibly due to the previous day's windstorm, it is important for the campus to know about this report. If anyone has anything additional to report, please contact Safety and Security at 845-437-7333. Students in both reportings were contacted by administrators with resource support and by Safety and Security with updated information relating to the investigation.   Note: BIRT log entries may be updated and amended as additional information emerges.  

At 11:19am on May 25 a student worker reported via email that the words "I hate nigger" were written in light Magic Marker on the stall of the Men's Room behind the College Center Kiosk.  The marking, approximately 2 inches in size, was documented and removed immediately. The student was contacted and invited in to talk about the incident.  Campus Safety was also notified to monitor similar spaces for repeated markings. To assist with any investigation, the image will not be posted until a later time.  

On April 21 it was reported a poster advertising a Trans Allyship Workshop had been vandalized by scratching out the name of a student associated with the event.  The poster was in the LGBTQ Center. Safety and Security responded and removed the poster and filed for documentation. BIRT contacted both the student who reported the incident and the student whose name was scratched over on the poster.  Resources and support were offered, including a BIRT meeting where resources were recommended.  

   

On March 2 in the early afternoon, a student reported finding text written in Magic Marker in a Library restroom.  It read, "To all black students we should unite & slaughter All THE WHITES." Resources were offered to the person reporting this incident.  Safety and Security responded to document and report to the Town Police. An email from the President's Office  was sent to the campus at 9:49pm on March 2, referencing recent bias incidents and included a link to this BIRT log. Note: No photos are posted here to enhance the investigation of this and past incidents.

BIRT received a report from a student that on the morning of Tuesday, February 21, a note was slipped under their residence door.  It read, "Leave my country or I'll kill you." Two days earlier, the student noted they also received a call from a private number with a voice stating, "I've been watching you." The report was filed late in the day on March 1st via an online report. Safety and Security was notified and contacted the student to provide safety resources and also arranged a meeting to file an official Safety report.  Town Police were also contacted to document the report. The student also spoke with an administrator on the night of the report and with the BIRT coordinator on the morning of March 2.  Support and safety resources were offered. An email from the President's Office  was sent to the campus at 9:49pm on March 2, referencing recent bias incidents and included a link to this BIRT log.

At 1:13am on February 28 it was reported that the following was written on a petition located at the College Center Kiosk: "Gay Love/Gay Hate  Fuck Fags." Part of the petition read "Please sign this petition to encourage the future Kiosk/Cafe/UpC/Whatever to remain run by Students.  Thank you." BIRT core team members reviewed the report and also met with the person reporting the incident.  Safety and Security will also review the petition list for further information. A BIRT Campus Alert email was sent at 6:21pm.

A student reported an interaction with an administrator in a residence as biased and discriminatory, targeting them based on their race. The report was shared with the Associate Dean of College for Campus Life and Diversity, also the administrator for BIRT. The report was referred to the Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Office for investigation.

In the early morning of Friday, February 24 Safety and Security were notified by the Library that a racist, anti-Black, anti-Semitic, hateful and offensive message in other ways was written on a wall down a staircase off the front entry of the Library.  The message read:  "Negro is the disease of our society   White Pride," followed by three swastikas. The Town of Poughkeepsie Police were called in to lead the investigation.  More details will be added to this report as they become available. The President's Office emailed the campus at 7:30am and included a link to this entry.   Originally posted at 7:20am, 2-24-17 Updated 2:21pm, 2-24-17    

On February 20 at 10:49pm a report was filed with Safety and Security that "Kill all the Blacks" was written in black magic marker on the wall of the Men's Room in the Library lobby.  Safety and Security responded to investigate and remove the marking.  Town of Poughkeepsie Police were also notified to assist with the investigation. Anyone with additional information about this incident should contact Campus Safety at 845-437-5221.  BIRT will also follow up with appropriate resources, where needed. Process:  The report was reviewed on the morning of February 2o by the BIRT core team, led by the Associate Dean of the College for Campus Life and Diversity and followed by meetings  with the Dean of the College, the Director of Safety and Security and the College Information Officer. The President was also notified and updated periodically of discussions and assessments. It was decided that a campus email would address the campus safety elements and include a link to this bias incident summary prepared by BIRT, given the threat of violence.  This campus email was sent at approximately 5:30pm on February 21. On February 22, at 6:41pm an additional Campus email was sent from the President's Office to denounce the threatening and hateful speech.  

On January 22 Safety and Security received a report from a faculty resident of Main House that "Ya Niggas Is Pussy" and "I have ur marker" was written on their white board, accompanied by a drawing of a penis. Safety and Security responded and photos were taken.  Resident was contacted by several administrators and the Associate Director for Safety and Security responded to investigate.    The resident expressed that they were not personally targeted but was extremely concerned by the incident.

On the morning of July 22 a local resident(jogger) reported that offensive chalking marks were present on the sidewalk near Josselyn House, including wording and drawings of "NIGGER", a penis and vagina. Actions Taken: Safety and Security responded with an investigation, including speaking with summer programs administrators with knowledge of camp participants or others  near the residence.  Buildings and Grounds washed away the chalking.

On May 21 two people reported seeing the letters "KKK" spray painted in black on a tree near the Field Station (Vassar Farm). Campus Safety and Security confirmed and is continuing to investigate the incident. Email alert sent to campus. Actions Taken:  BIRT received the report, reached out to those reporting, and contacted Safety and Security.  The Town of Poughkeepsie Police have also been notified. Anyone with information about this hate crime should contact Campus Safety at 845-437-5221. Outcome:

A student reported that they believed two other students who entered a college building with them had been racially profiled by a building staff member. Action Taken: In accordance with Vassar's policy on Racial Profiling, BIRT forwarded the report to the Equal Opportunity Office for investigation.

A student reported that they believed that posters related to the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions(BDS) were biased, hurtful and not factual. The posters were located in a bathroom of an academic building. Actions Taken:  BIRT reviewed the report and communicated with the student.  While the posters may have caused discomfort, the content was within the realm of free speech and expression. BIRT also acknowledged that posters not properly posted (i.e., bathroom stalls) should be removed in accordance with college policy.

On April 8, 2016 a student reported that a swastika was drawn in blue ink on a sign-up sheet that was on their residence house door on the evening of April 6.  According to the report, the sign up sheet did not have a purpose.  A swastika is recognized as a symbol of anti-Semitism, white supremacy, racism, and homophobia because of its use by Nazi Germany and by subsequent supremacist groups. Actions Taken:  A representative from BIRT met with the student to review the report and offer support.  As additional information was gathered, Residential Life and the residence House Advisor also consulted with the student and others in the room vicinity.  A "Not in My House" email was sent on April 14 to residents of the house.  The original sign-up sheet was handed over to Safety and Security and the incident is still under investigation.  On April 18 BIRT sent out an all-campus email to alert the campus.  

An residential life administrator shared that a student from the Terrace Houses(TH) reported overhearing several students using a racially derogatory term ("Fuck yeah, N***a") while others were involved in a fight between "between drunk friends." Actions Taken: Residential Life followed up with students involved and asked Safety and Security to investigate for possible student conduct violations

SUMMARY REPORT From February 16 through March 29,  at least eleven(11) incident reports were received regarding postings on YikYak, Facebook and other communications.  The majority were anonymous postings of opinions and expressions that were thought to be bias related.  Several postings involved comments about Islam, Muslims, Jews and Zionists.  While it cannot be determined whether posts on YikYak are from within Vassar, the postings nonetheless impact Vassar community members. One report involved an exchange between two acquaintances and was referred to Student Conduct in the Dean of Students Office.  Another involved residents in a House where sexist language was used; the house team sent out a message to residents. Representatives from BIRT met with or contacted those reporting these incidents. If other parties were known, we also contacted them.  In cases where we consider reported incidents to have had a broad impact on the campus, we send campus alert notices.  Otherwise, summaries or specific reports are logged onto this page for reference.

A student reported that a mezuzah on their Ferry residence door had been removed and thrown down the hall.  Student believed they was targeted because of their involvement in the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions(BDS) discussions and because of their religion.  The incident was reported to Safety and Security. Action(s) Taken:  BIRT followed up with the student with support.  Safety and Security continued the investigation. Outcome: Safety and Security did not have any leads on who may have been responsible for removing the mezuzah.  

Numerous Asian students received derogatory emails targeting their ethnicity and culture. The emails were in response to an "Open Letter" written about the re-naming of the Old Bookstore. The reports are under investigation and more details will be posted when available.  Email alert sent to campus. Actions Taken:  Reported to BIRT and Safety and Security. Outcome: Investigation by Safety and Town Police unable to identify individuals responsible for the emails.

Several online submissions and emails reported that anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, and Islamophobic comments were made on YikYak on February 12 and 13, including "We say F--K Muslims." Actions Taken: BIRT core members met on the morning of February 15 to review the reports.  Campus email alerting community considered. Outcome:

On Thursday, February 4, the Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) received reports of anti-Semitic comments and slurs, including "F--K Jews" that were posted on Yik Yak, a social media platform read by many members of the Vassar community. Actions Taken: BIRT met on February 5 and reviewed postings and alerted campus via email. Outcome:

Residential Life reported that while preparing a Noyes House room for a new occupant, an offensive anti-Semitic carving was found on the room's door. Actions Taken:  Incident reported to BIRT, carving sanded away, and incident investigated by Safety and Security.  Noyes House Team met to develop a Not in My House message to residents. Outcome: