Bias Incident Response Team

Students are strongly encouraged to report hate crimes or bias incidents that occur on campus or at College-sponsored activities to the Bias Incident Response Team.

The purpose of the Bias Incident Response Team is to assess and coordinate the response to bias-related campus incidents. The Bias Incident Response Team will investigate reported bias-related incidents to determine whether an incident is bias-related, and to recommend appropriate outcomes for the incident, including the necessity of involvement from law enforcement or other outside agencies.

Bias Incident Response Team Members

• Chief Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer (chair): Rebecca Mattis-Pinard
• Associate Vice President for Student Success and Engagement and Dean of Students: Emmalyn Yamrick
• Executive Director of Academic Operations: Tseday Alehgen
• Associate Vice President of Human Resources: Bree Bullingham
• Assistant Dean and Director of Student Development and Activities: Dayne Hutchinson
• Senior Director of Strategic Communications: Stephen Eichinger
• Faculty Member selected by the VP for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty

 

Reporting a Bias Incident

Any member of the MMC Community may report a bias/discrimination incident or other related concern or complaint here. Once it has been reviewed you will be contacted through your MMC email address by the appropriate person to follow up on it. You may chose to submit this concern/complaint anonymously, in which case the College will do its best to address it without the ability to reach out to you for more information or to alert you as to how your concern/complaint has been addressed.

What is a Hate Crime or Bias Incident?

A hate crime is an act of violence motivated by intolerance and bigotry.  New York state law defines a hate crime as a criminal act involving violence, intimidation and destruction of property based upon bias and prejudice.  Victims of hate crimes are intentionally selected, in whole or in part, because of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation. Hate crimes are punishable by law and handled by the police, like any other criminal act.

A bias incident is like a hate crime in that it is an action or conduct committed against a person that is also motivated by intolerance and bigotry, however the conduct may not rise to the level of a criminal act.  In addition, a bias incident may include verbal and nonverbal behavior that is threatening, harassing and intimidating.  All hate crimes are bias incidents, but not all bias incidents are considered hate crimes, depending on the facts and circumstances involved. Bias incidents are considered violations of the College’s Code of Conduct and Policy Against Harassment and Unlawful Discrimination.