Frequently Asked Questions

At Butler we believe that we can create a more inclusive and respectful community through awareness and education. We believe one way to create a more inclusive environment is by addressing bias related incidents that are directed at members of our community. In reporting, our goals are to:

• Support and respond to those who have experienced identity-based hate
• Respond directly to offenders if identified
• Track the overall incidents in our community each year, and
• Tailor educational efforts for our campus community and report about campus climate based on the type of incidents we track.

Butler encourages all students, faculty, staff, guests, applicants, and volunteers to report incidents of bias they may have experienced or witnessed. Reports involving students will be reviewed by the Dean of Students, and reports involving faculty and/or staff will be reviewed by Human Resources or the Provost as applicable.

When an incident of bias is reported through the online reporting system, the report will be sent to the Office of Institutional Equity who will direct the report to the appropriate office.

When a student submits a report, there are members of the campus community who will reach out to listen and to provide care, support, and resources.  In the event that the reported incident is a violation of university policy or federal, state or local statute, the university may be required to take specific action to address the incident and its effects.

When employees submit an incident of bias through the online reporting system the report will be reviewed by Human Resources or the Provost as applicable. For information, please see the Equal Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Policy.

In most cases your concerns will be kept private. To the best of our ability, only those you wish to know will be informed. You will be given options and resources to support you after an incident. If, however, a crime has been committed or the community is at risk of harm, there is an obligation to report the incident to the appropriate authority in order to keep you and the Butler community safe. In those incidents, the matter will be handled as privately as possible.

Because we seek to provide care and outreach, we strongly encourage anyone reporting an incident to provide either a phone number or an e-mail address so that we may contact you if there is a need for clarification or if additional questions or concerns arise. Should you choose to report anonymously, we will follow up to the best of our ability.

Butler University understands that the exchange of ideas and the opportunity to critically analyze and express different viewpoints is essential to a free and vigorous academic environment. The expression of an idea or point of view some may find offensive or inflammatory is not necessarily a bias related incident. While this value of openness protects controversial ideas, it does not protect harassment or expressions of bias or hate aimed at individuals that violate the Butler University Rules of Conduct.

Hate by itself is not a crime. A hate crime is a traditional criminal offense such as murder, arson, or vandalism with an added element of bias toward a federally protected class of people. For the purposes of collecting statistics, Congress and the Clery Act collectively define hate crime as a “criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, ethnicity, gender, religion, economic status, national origin, disability, age or sexual orientation.” Allegations of hate crimes will be addressed by BUPD.

Butler University understands that the exchange of ideas and the opportunity to critically analyze and express different viewpoints is essential to a free and vigorous academic environment. The expression of an idea or point of view some may find offensive or inflammatory is not necessarily a bias related incident. While this value of openness protects controversial ideas, it does not protect harassment or expressions of bias or hate aimed at individuals that violate the Butler University Rules of Conduct.

Individuals or groups subjected to bias can experience a number of emotional, psychological, and personal responses. The impact of bias may be expressed as:

• A diminished sense of self-worth for an extended period of time;
• Feeling the need to retaliate against a member of the group represented by the responsible person(s)/group(s);
• Feeling vulnerable, powerless, helpless, fearful, and/or unwelcome;
• Psychological distress, including stress, anxiety, anger;
• Interference with an individual’s ability to work, learn, or maintain health relationships;
• Poor academic performance;
• Distrust between individuals and/or groups, leading to a diminished sense of community and belonging;
• A desire to leave or withdraw from the community and/or to decrease participation in social activities and programs.