Taking Action

EVERY YEAR more than half a million college students are targets of bias-driven
slurs or physical assaults.

EVERY DAY at least one hate crime occurs on a college campus.

EVERY MINUTE a college student somewhere sees or hears racist, sexist, homophobic or otherwise biased words or images.

It’s time to educate each other and take action.

Building Our Community: 10 Ways To Take Action at Columbia

What can we do when a bias incident occurs?

1. RISE UP
   Do Something. Don’t let hate go unchallenged. Apathy, in some ways, can be as dangerous as hate.
2. PULL TOGETHER
   Don’t let hate and different approaches to address incidents tear people apart on campus; pull together instead.
3. SPEAK OUT
   Join with others; use your voices to denounce bigoted actions and behaviors.
4. SUPPORT THE VICTIMS
   Empower communities to have a voice. Too often, decisions are made on behalf of victims, but without their actual input.
5. KNOW IT, NAME IT
   Hate crime or bias incident? Because of the involvement of the criminal justice system, hate crimes may be responded to
   differently than a bias incident.
6. UNDERSTAND THE MEDIA
   Prepare yourself to understand and work with the media to educate the community.
7. KNOW YOUR CAMPUS
   Before, during, and after a bias crisis, know your resources, like the Office of Multicultural Affairs, to help provide the support and advocacy needed.
8. EDUCATE EACH OTHER
   Bias incidents are usually connected to or indicative of larger systemic and social issues. Participate and promote programs and trainings that can proactively educate.
9. MAINTAIN MOMENTUM
   After an immediate crisis has passed, what happens now? Continue action and dialogue.
10. PASS THE TORCH
    What happens after you leave campus? Creating institutional memory and inspiring students to continue the dialogue are essential.
    
    Adapted from the Southern Poverty Law Center's Project on Teaching Tolerance