Longwood University

Longwood University stands on its values and belief that diversity and democracy are inextricable. Consequently, a citizen in a democracy share the values governing membership in a democratic society such as:

• human dignity and freedom
• equal rights
• social and economic justice
• the rule of law
• civility and truth
• tolerance and diversity
• mutual assistance
• personal and civic responsibility and
• self restraint and self-respect

Longwood University does not tolerate such bias incidents. As stated by the Longwood University Student Handbook and approved by the Board of Visitors, December 2001

If you have any information about past bias incidents or you have been a victim of a bias incident, please contact the appropriate campus office, including the:

• Longwood University Police Department: 395-2091
• Department of Human Resources (AA/EEO Officer): 395-2075
• Office of Multicultural Affairs: 395-2395
• Residential Education Coordinator: (see on-line directory or call 395-2000) for assistance
• and or supervisor at the University: (see on-line directory or call 395-2000) for assistance

Note: All reports are confidential and can be made anonymously. 

Definitions of Bias incidents and Hate crimes?

Hate Crime

• Defined very specifically in multiple places (state law, federal law [such as the Jeanne Clery Act]). Definitions are not always consistent. 
• A specific crime must happen, such as physical assault, intimidation, or arson. The behavior must meet the specific definition as written in the criminal statutes. Not every negative behavior is a crime.
• The crime must be motivated by bias.

Adapted from Chief Charles E. Lowe, Director of Public Safety, Longwood University 2004

 Bias Incident

• Conduct, speech, or expression that is motivated by bias or prejudice.
• Does not involve a criminal act.
• May, however, violate campus codes or policies.

From: 10 Ways to Fight Hate on Campus, A Response Guide for College Activists, 2004

 What is the Difference?

•  Hate crimes must meet specific criteria defined by the state or federal government and, if charged and prosecuted, will be dealt with in the courts system.
• Bias incidents may be handled through campus grievance procedures, or they may occur with no clear path or procedure for recourse.

From: 10 Ways to Fight Hate on Campus, A Response Guide for College Activists, 2004
 

What is Longwood’s response to Bias Incidents and Hate Crimes?

1) Judicial charges, if the behavior violates the Student Code of Conduct:

• The courts have not upheld campus judicial codes that include specific prohibitions related to bias and hate because they have been overly broad in their definitions.
• Thus, campuses (including Longwood) use existing policies and train board members to identify bias-related behavior and include appropriate education sanctions when a student is found responsible.

Examples of charges:

• 10. Violence to Persons
• 14. Property
• 15. Abuse to Persons

 
2) Criminal charges (state and or federal), if the behavior is identified as a hate crime.

A History of Reported Bias Incidents at Longwood University during the 2005-06 Academic Year

8/28/05 - RCL heard rumors that Resident Assistant (undergraduate student) made an inappropriate comment during a floor meeting.  Investigation was completed by Director, Residential and Commuter Life, and no proof could be found regarding any inappropriate comments.  No one ever came forward to register any complaints.

10/13/05 - RCL received complaints that a roommate conflict existed in Cox residence hall.  Three residents were in a transitional room (3 in a room built for 3).  One of the residents was an “out” gay man.  The other men asked that we force this man move out due to the sexual orientation difference.  The department refused to move anyone that did not request to move.  The man in question later asked to be moved from the room.

10/15/05 - Bulletin Board on Cox 4th Floor is vandalized.  Bulletin Board featured education on GLBT issues, and the vandalism was bias related.  It was thought to be a response to room situation described above.

01/28/06 - Curry resident (“out” gay man) shared that he was walking down the hall when an unknown person yelled out a derogatory term.  Later, he discovered that the word “faggot” had been written on the door.  Another resident (African-American female) reported that her memo board (room next door) had also been vandalized and the word “nigger” was written on the board.

02/08/06 - A student (“out” lesbian woman) reported that she was verbally and physically assaulted by an unknown student.  The verbal assault included hate speech.

A History of Reported Bias Incidents at Longwood University during the 2004-05 Academic Year

The following incidents targeted three students and a university staff member during fall semester 2004. 

1) A student was approached during Oktoberfest 2004 (October 1 & 2, 2004) by someone who said “I didn’t know they let lesbians in Mortar Board.”  

Response: The Student Affairs Staff heard about this incident third or fourth hand and have not (to my knowledge) responded directly to the student in question. 

2) Note: The following incidents are grouped together because they happened to the same student, and all but one were likely connected with a breakup between the harassed student and his former partner. 

• A male, gay student was visiting a significant other in his residence hall room at Hampden-Sydney.  Two students entered the room and made rude comments.  This Longwood student and his significant other left the room. A report was made to an RA at Hampden-Sydney. We are unaware of any specific action that was made by the Hampden-Sydney staff. 

• On Monday, October 11, 2004, a male, student was sitting on a bench at Brock Commons.  He was wearing a Gay Pride shirt that read “National Coming Out Day. Oct. 11, 2004.  Gay Pride.”  Three guys ran up behind him and threw something on his shirt.  He assumed that it was spaghetti sauce.  He did not get a good look at the men who threw it as they ran away quickly afterwards.

• On Friday, October 29, 2004 between the hours of 11:30 pm-1:30 am a male student received harassing phone calls on his cell phone from a private number.  The student contacted campus police about this incident.
• On Saturday, October 30, 2004, a male student checked his email (the home email account, which forwards his emails to his Longwood account).  He received an email that had a picture attached of him and his significant other in front of the information center at the Smithsonian Museum with the words “AW The 2 Sluts Found Love…Faggot #1 and Faggot #2” written on the picture in red ink. This picture is available on the internet on this student’s private on-line journal.  This picture was taken from his online journal and the writing was added and then emailed to this student.  The Director of Residential and Commuter Life advised the student to report this incident to the police.

• Comment from the male student above: “I do believe that since [name omitted] and I are no longer dating that the hate-crimes will stop. They started when [name omitted] and I became a couple and I just put two and two together. I also know that there are people that I can talk to about these situations, but at this time I don't feel as if I need to talk and I know that in the future if I feel the need to, I know that I can.”
• Response: The Residence Education Coordinator, Director of Residential and Commuter Life, and Director of Multicultural Affairs have all talked directly with this student. The student has indicated that he knows the resources that are available to him, and he would like to let the incidents rest.

3)  On October 23, 2004, one of the captains of the men’s soccer team received a verbally abusive phone call that referenced both sex and race in a degrading, humiliating way. The Longwood police were notified and spoke with the person who made the phone call. After that, the person who made the phone call apologized via the telephone and in writing. 

Response: The Director of Athletics is serving as complainant in a verbal abuse charge against the person who made the phone call. 

4) On October 24, 2004, a University staff member discovered his garage door had been defaced. In black letters, presumably spray paint, was written "Mexi-Can't 1-13." The staff member believes this was a reference to his ethnic heritage.  

Response: Longwood and Farmville Police Departments are conducting an investigation. On October 26, 2004, an email was sent to every member of the Longwood community (students, faculty, and staff) reiterating Longwood’s intolerance of bias incidents and asking for information that would help the investigation. 

5) The women in 215 ARC and 217 ARC posted fliers on the doorways that read, “GAY MARRIAGE, ABORTION, AND TOLERANCE ARE SUPPORTED IN THIS SUITE”.  These fliers were handmade with red and blue magic markers on white paper.  Someone wrote in green “Thats Cause Yall Are Fags” on one of the fliers. 

Response: The residents reported this to Dave Levy (REC) who reported the information to Larry Robertson (Director).  Levy also reported that the women did not want anything done, but they did want to at least report the incident.  There is no reason to believe that this comment was made toward any one of the individuals or that it was done by someone who knew the occupants in the room

Ally Zone (Safe Zone) at Longwood University

http://www.longwood.edu/counseling/AllyZone.htm

Web Resources:

Tolerance.org: http://www.tolerance.org/

Department of Justice Community Relations Service: http://www.usdoj.gov/crs/

National Associate of Christian and Jews: http://www.nccj.org/

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People: http://www.naacp.org/

Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund: http://www.saldef.org/default.aspx?zone=main.home

Civil Rights.org: http://www.civilrights.org/

The Human Rights Campaign: http://www.hrc.org/