Resources

Definitions

  • Bias

    Any conduct (verbal, written, nonverbal) that is threatening, harassing, intimidating, discriminatory, hostile, unwelcoming, exclusionary, demeaning, degrading or derogatory based on a person’s real or perceived identity or group affiliation in a protected class recognized by law including, but not limited to, race/ethnicity, age, disability status, gender, gender identity/expression, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status or religion.

    Examples include acts of vandalism, telling jokes based on stereotypes, posting offensive language about someone based on identity on social media/bulletin boards/white boards. A bias incident can occur intentionally or unintentionally. Speech or expression that is consistent with academic freedom does not constitute a bias incident.

  • Discrimination

    When an individual suffers an adverse consequence based on membership in a legally protected category.

  • Harassment

    An incident or incidents of verbal, written, visual or physical conduct based on or motivated by a student or employees actual or perceived race, creed, color, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability that undermines, detracts from or interferes with an individual’s academic or work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.

  • Hate Crime

    Under Massachusetts law, Chapter 22C, Section 32, a hate crime is “any criminal act coupled with overt actions motivated by bigotry and bias including, but not limited to, a threatened attempted or completed overt act motivated at least in part by racial, religious, ethnic, handicap, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation prejudice, or which otherwise deprives another person of his constitutional rights by threats, intimidation, coercion, or which seek to interfere with or disrupt a person’s exercise of constitutional rights through harassment or intimidation.”

    Examples include verbal threats of violence, physical attacks, property damage, etc., against a protected class of people.