Bias Incident Response Team

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eGrove (Univ. of Mississippi)

University of Mississippi eGrove University of Mississippi News 10-4-2013 Statement from the Bias Incident Response Team Bias Incident Response Team Follow this and additional works at: https://egrove.olemiss.edu/umnews Recommended Citation Bias Incident Response Team, "Statement from the Bias Incident Response Team" (2013). University of Mississippi News. 4843. https://egrove.olemiss.edu/umnews/4843 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by eGrove. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Mississippi News by an authorized administrator of eGrove. For more information, please contact egrove@olemiss.edu. Search this website … SearchStatement from the Bias Incident Response TeamOCTOBER 4, 2013 BY BIAS INCIDENT RESPONSE TEAMUpon being notified of a reported incident at a recent performance of The Laramie Project, the BiasIncident Response Team (BIRT) swiftly met to discuss the night’s events.  Co-Chair Valeria BeasleyRoss stated that BIRT was established by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs duringthe 2013 Spring Semester and seeks to support the university’s efforts to establish and sustain theuniversity’s expectations around inclusivity and to provide an atmosphere that supports a healthycurricular and co-curricular experience.The co-chairs of the BIRT, in addition to staff members from the University Athletic Department, metwith the cast and crew before the following night’s performance to discuss the October 1st performance.Co-Chair Merrill Magruder of the Bias Incident Response Team stated that the cast and crew stressedthat they did not want to see punitive action, but rather make this an educational opportunity for thosewho were in attendance. The recommendations below were developed by the BIRT to follow the studentsdesire to provide educational outcomes.The University of Mississippi is committed to celebrating the differences of our student body, valuingeach member of our community, and fostering an atmosphere of civility and respect. With these goals inmind, the BIRT intervened immediately and will continue to respond in a prompt and efficient manner toaddress the reported inappropriate behavior that took place on October 1.  The task of identifyingspecific individuals who were purported to have disrupted the performance is difficult because of the darktheatre, and initial reports vary in regard to the frequency, volume and source of the comments ordisruption. Although initial reports indicate that student-athletes led the action, it is important to notethat this has not been verified and they were not the only students present.  Reports indicate thatcomments were made by student athletes and students but no report has singled out a specific studentor mentioned any names. The BIRT encourages those in attendance who have specific accounts tocontact them at birt@olemiss.edu, or Joseph Lawhorne, assistant Title IX Coordinator, atjoseph@olemiss.edu.  The BIRT will also follow university protocol by reporting any incidents ofdiscrimination to the Title IX Office.At this point and based upon the information that we have, BIRT recommends the following proactivesteps:Given the conflicting reports and the wishes of the actors and crew, BIRT wants to address andeducate every student in attendance at Tuesday evening’s performance; therefore all students inattendance of The Laramie Project on October 1 are required to attend an educational dialoguesession led by University faculty and Allies.  Cast members are invited to participate as well. Thedialogue will seek to repair the harm that was done to the effected community.The BIRT will support the continued efforts of The Department of Athletics to foster an environmentof diversity and inclusion such as their partnership with the William Winter Institute in hostingracial reconciliation week, October 7-11 and their continued support of the LGBTQ Community.The University Counseling Center, members of Allies, and the PRIDE Network will continue toprovide counseling and support to students who may be in need of counseling after the publicacknowledgement of the reported incident.The University leadership encourages faculty, staff, students, and community members to fullysupport our LGBTQ community by attending and supporting PRIDE week activities.The University Bias Incident Response Team is united in the belief that we are a university where theobjectives are learning, growing, and becoming leaders.  We achieve these goals only when we gatherand work with facts and do not rush to judgment.  Even when we make mistakes, we will address ourmistakes and we will learn and grow.  As a committee, the BIRT will approach this as an opportunity toeducate our students and the greater community about the importance of respect, civility, andresponsibility. Our committee will work to address individual behavior, group behavior, and bystanderbehavior. The Bias Incident Response Team plans to meet both today and Monday with facultymembers in the Theater Department, staff members in the Department of Athletics and affectedstudents.  These meetings will better help us provide a support system for our students, faculty, andstaff while allowing the BIRT to serve as an advocate for members of the LBGTQ community.  Thesemeetings will additionally allow us to make thoughtful long-term recommendations.Read the story …Read the story …Follow us on socialCampus BriefsStudents Learn ‘Real Politics’ inWashington, D.C., Winter SessionOXFORD, Miss. – Eleven University ofMississippi students spent their winterbreak learning about the people who workbehind the scenes of the Americangovernment in Washington, D.C. Lead byJonathan Klingler, assistant professor ofpolitical science, the students of Pol 391:Applied Politics met not with candidates,but with the people who make candidates’More Posts from this CategoryThank You To OurDonorsYoung Alumna Gives Back to Schoolof AccountancyOXFORD, Miss. – Stephanie JenningsTeague, of Chicago, sees her commitmentof $100,000 to the Patterson School ofAccountancy‘s new building at theUniversity of Mississippi as a means ofsaying “thank you.” “It is a way to show asmall token of my appreciation to OleMiss, the faculty and staff, and theaccountingMore Posts from this CategoryOle Miss In the NewsReuters: Keep an Eye on the MoneySupplyU.S. inflation roller coaster prompts freshlook at long-ignored money supply ByMichael S. Derby NEW YORK – Theamount of money sloshing around the U.S.economy shrank last year for the first timeon record, a development that someeconomists believe bolsters the case forU.S. inflation pressures continuing toabate. The Federal Reserve’sNews Releases UM COVID-19 Video Gallery University Communications Ole Miss Homepage Ole Miss News BlogFacebookTwitterLin edInEmailCopyLi kSMSPrintFriendlyShar FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedInYouTubeChannelSupport and resources are available to members of the University community.  Email the BIRT(birt@olemiss.edu) for additional information.Merrill Magruder, Co-Chair of Bias Incident Response Team & Coordinator of Division Operations forthe Division of Student AffairsValeria Beasley Ross, Co-Chair of Bias Incident Response Team & Assistant Dean of Student forMulticultural Affairs & Volunteer ServicesCamp Best, Staff CounselorDerrick Dixon, Coordinator of Student ConductJudith Hopper, Assistant Director of Equal Opportunity and Regulatory ComplianceJeff Kellum, Crime Prevention CoordinatorFILED UNDER: NEWS RELEASESRead the story …More Posts from this CategoryRetu rn  to  to p  o f  p a ge Copyright © 2023 · Th e Un iversity  o f  M ississ ip p i

Statement from the Bias Incident Response Team

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Statement from the Bias Incident Response Team

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eGrove (Univ. of Mississippi)