Office of Equal Opportunity & Civil Rights: Hate/Bias

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UWM is committed to creating and supporting a campus climate that is respectful and supportive of all who study, live, work or participate in activities or events within our campus community.

Members of the UWM community who have been subjected to, or who have witnessed, an incident or bias or hate are encouraged to submit a hate/bias incident report to EOCR. The purpose of this reporting system is to provide support and resources to those impacted by these incidents.

What is a hate/bias incident?

• UWM defines a hate- or bias-motivated incident as any type of disruptive conduct–oral, written, graphic, or physical–that is directed against an individual, or group of individuals, because of their actual or perceived protected characteristics. 

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What kinds of incidents can be reported?

Examples of conduct that can be reported include, but are not limited to:  

• Physical intimidation, or assault; 
• Verbal or written slurs or epithets; 
• Degrading language; 
• Graffiti or vandalism; 
• And microaggressions. 

If you are in doubt, please submit a report and we will ensure that the report is directed to the appropriate office for review.

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What happens when I submit a report?

• After reviewing the report, a member of the EOCR (Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights) staff will contact the reporter to gather any additional information about the incident and to discuss its impact on the reporter. EOCR staff will also provide options for addressing the concerns, and share information about campus and community support services.
• When appropriate, EOCR staff will provide information about the formal discrimination complaint investigation process. ...

Rapid Response Team

• With the agreement of the reporting person, EOCR (Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights) can refer hate/bias incident reports to UWM’s Rapid Response Team (RRT), a group composed of representatives from different campus offices, including the Dean of Students Office, Student Health and Wellness Center, the Centers for Advocacy and Student Engagement, and the Multicultural Student Centers.
• The RRT provides care and support in response to incidents of hate and bias, but it does not conduct formal investigations into these reports.  ...

First Amendment/free speech considerations

• Hate or bias incidents do not necessarily violate the law or university policy. As a public university, UWM is bound by the First Amendment and will not sanction or punish a member of the university community for exercising their right to freedom of speech and expression.
• The term “hate speech” is used to describe hateful comments that demean a person or group of people based on their personal characteristics such as race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. More information on “hate speech” is available here.
• In situations where speech is protected by the First Amendment and is not subject to sanction, UWM is committed to providing care and support to those impacted by hateful and offensive speech and expression through the hate/bias reporting process.