Bias Response Group to address defacement of poster

The defacement of a poster with a swastika last week is being treated like any other incident that may have been motivated by bias, said Pat Oles, dean of students and chair of the Bias Response Group, established last fall to address bias incidents.

The Skidmore Young Republican Assembly put up the poster in CASE Center on March 24 to promote the April 2 lecture by former Attorney General Ashcroft. The swastika was discovered March 25 and reported to Campus Safety.

Last year, the College defined a "bias incident" as an act of "bigotry, harassment, or intimidation involving a member of the Skidmore community that a reasonable person would conclude is directed at a member or group within the Skidmore community based on race, color, ethnicity, nationality, economic background, age, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, veteran status, or religious practice."

Although groups based on political affiliation are not explicitly included in the definition, Oles said he will convene the group shortly to consider the incident and determine appropriate next steps. Responses to previous bias incidents have included hall discussions, campus-wide forums, semester reports, newspaper articles and integrity board hearings.

"We're sensitive to both a need for a strong institutional response to bias incidents and the importance of dissent, dialog, and debate" Oles said. "Any behavior that stifles civil discourse is unacceptable. Bias incidents are acts of bigotry, intimidation, and harassment directed at identified members of the community. We urge students, faculty, and staff to engage in vigorous discussion without resorting to conduct that limits the free exchange of ideas."

In additional to Oles, members of the BRG include Phred Braunstein, SGA vice president for diversity affairs; Herb Crossman, assistant director of human resources for EEO and workforce diversity; Mariel Martin, interim director of student diversity programs; Marla Segol, assistant professor of philosophy and religion; Winston Grady-Willis, director of intercultural studies and associate professor of American studies, and SGA member Kavita Gadani.

In recent interviews with reporters, Tom Qualtere, president of the Skidmore Young Republican Assembly, and Ben Yelin, president of the Skidmore College Democrats, condemned the vandalism, calling it "abhorrent," and "a low point for Skidmore." Both said they are optimistic the Skidmore community will turn out for the Ashcroft speech in large numbers and that they are encouraging students to come, hear, ask questions, and form opinions.

Ashcroft's appearance is being funded chiefly by the Young America's Foundation, which describes itself as a "principal outreach organization of the conservative movement."