Following our report of hate language being found on a whiteboard in Colonnades D, some students and faculty questioned why Vice President of Student Life, Dr. Smith Jackson, didn't email everyone to notify the campus of the incident. Dr. Smith Jackson emailed everyone today to explain campus notice email policies and why he didn't email everyone in this particular case.
"Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
At the start of this academic year I want to make everyone aware of Elon's policies and procedures, including campus notification of incidents related to bias and discrimination. As in society and on other university campuses, disrespectful and hateful acts do occur on the Elon campus. This week many persons on campus have spoken out against a recent act of bias. I thank the Chaplain, SGA, Hillel and the many others who have expressed views supporting the university's position that any act of bias or discrimination toward any member of our community (whether it is based on one's race, sexual orientation, gender, faith, culture, geographic origin or ability) is simply not acceptable at Elon. This broad-based response across the campus is ultimately the best way to confront directly these acts and to build a community where everyone values the dignity of each person and the opportunity to learn from those different from ourselves.
To address these incidents, last year Elon established the Office of Inclusive Community Well-being to oversee the bias and harassment prevention and response initiatives and to coordinate diversity education for faculty and staff. Leigh-Anne Royster directs this office and works in partnership with Dr. Brooke Barnett, interim associate provost for inclusive community. Dr. Barnett coordinates Elon's various departments and centers that support students of diverse backgrounds and identities, campus climate, and diversity and cultural programming and education.
Comprehensive information about Elon's response programs can be found on the Inclusive Community Website, http://www.elon.edu/e-web/org/
Over the past year, I have worked closely with Dr. Barnett, Ms. Royster, and Chief of Campus Police Dennis Franks to develop a new reporting and campus notification system that we put in place last spring. When a report of an incident is received, Chief Franks will send immediate E-alert text messages and emails when there is a present danger on campus, such as assaults, prowlers or break-ins. These immediate alerts will give you the urgent information you need to protect yourself and help apprehend a perpetrator. In those situations, I will follow-up with a campus email providing more information on the incident and safety practices.
In reviewing when to notify the campus of bias incidents, we determined that sending notices to the campus in every situation often raised anxiety and focused unwanted attention on members of the very groups subjected to the bias and disrespectful behavior. Communicating each incident may also reinforce the very behavior we wish to prevent. Each situation must be handled individually in accordance its unique circumstances. Because we have a more accessible and robust online reporting system, including a confidential SafeLine (ext 3333) in campus security, we can expect more reports of incidents. Rather than issuing statements about each individual bias incident, we will distribute an annual report about incidents on the Elon campus and how we are addressing them.
The university will continue to investigate each inappropriate action, hold responsible persons accountable, and support those in our community who are subjected to acts of bias and discrimination. As we intend when such instances occur, specific steps were taken after the racist and anti-Semitic slurs were left on a whiteboard of a residence hall room this past weekend. These included my immediate contact with the students involved to offer support and resources; a floor meeting with students, residence life staff and Ms. Royster; individual meetings between the students involved and Ms. Royster; follow-up with parents; a police and student conduct office investigation; and campus organization meetings. Both student leaders and the Inclusive Community Council are planning programs to affirm the inclusion of all members of our community and to increase awareness and understanding. The actions taken to report and respond to the incident illustrate the responsibility needed to ensure our commitment to an inclusive community.
If you have questions or concerns about these resources or protocols presented in this email, please contact me, Ms. Royster or Dr. Barnett. We welcome conversations about how to develop a more inclusive and diverse campus community."
Smith Jackson
Vice President for Student Life
Dean of Students
Elon University