This week when you walk around campus, you might see a series of posters asking you to report Bias Motivated Incidents (BMI鈥檚). The posters, which are part of a CU-Boulder student-led campaign, use very graphic language to bring attention to the need to report acts of bias on our campus.
What ought to offend here is not the language on the posters, but the language that is used in perpetuating acts of racism, ethnic intimidation, homophobia and other acts of bias in our campus community. In fact, the quotes on the posters are taken from reports of incidents that have occurred within the Boulder and campus communities.听
From hateful messages written on white boards outside of residence hall rooms, to slurs uttered at parties or in public places on and off campus, to physical threats implied or stated directly, BMI鈥檚 not only intimidate individuals, they threaten whole communities and classes of people 鈥� people who are our classmates, colleagues, friends and welcome members of our community.
That is why I am joining the students in asking you to report these incidents by visiting , so we can provide support services and administrative action as appropriate. We also want to track the frequency of violent and non-violent BMI鈥檚 to be able to respond to victims with support, as well as gain an accurate sense of the disruptive actions and attitudes that affect our campus climate so that we can refine strategies to improve that climate.听
You have heard me state many times that I believe our campus has work to do in improving our climate and culture. That work begins with reporting BMI鈥檚, and with people of conscience and character joining together to stop them.
Sincerely,
Philip P. DiStefano,
Chancellor