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Hate Crimes on Campus: What to Do If You're a Target

Aug 8, 2012 Jennifer Williamson, Distance Education.org Columnist | 0 Comments

On March 16, 2012, Dharun Ravi, a college student who spied on his gay roommate during a romantic tryst, was sentenced to thirty days in jail. Ravi was convicted of bias intimidation as a hate crime, as well as tampering with evidence by changing tweets he made earlier to encourage others to watch the webcam he’d set up in the bedroom. Ravi’s roommate, Tyler Clementi, committed suicide shortly after discovering that Ravi had made his romantic encounter public.

Hate crimes, sometimes referred to as “bias-motivated” crimes, are defined as crimes committed against a person or group of people for belonging to a certain social group. That group could be defined by race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, or a variety of other factors. A hate crime could be anything from spray-painting discriminatory words and phrases on a building to assault or murder.

Hate crimes are, unfortunately, on the rise on college campuses. If you are the victim of a hate crime, here are some of the steps you should take.

Get medical attention immediately, if necessary

Hate Crime

If you have been the victim of a hate crime, be sure to report it to the proper authorities immediately—and be sure to get the support you need from mental health professionals, friends, and family.
Go to your school’s medical center or the nearest hospital. If this was a sexual assault, be sure to get a rape kit test done.

Write it down

Sometimes memory can be undependable, especially if you let some time lapse between the crime and when you recount the story. Be sure to write down all the details you remember as soon after the crime as you can. Relevant details include the perpetrator’s appearance, height and weight, other distinguishing characteristics, and what he or she wore; words that were said; time of day; and other relevant factors.

Report the incident

Go to your local police station to report the crime as soon as possible. Write down the badge number of the officer who takes the report, and be sure a case number is assigned. Always ask for a copy of the report, even if it’s preliminary. In addition, report the crime to the FBI—as hate crimes are a federal crime. You can do this in person at an FBI field office* or online.

More: Online Criminal Justice Degree, Degrees in Justice Administration

Present the evidence

If the crime involves graffiti, take pictures. If it involves a threatening phone message or email, save the message. Be sure to include any evidence you have when reporting the crime to the police. Providing evidence will make it much easier for law enforcement to investigate these crimes and bring their perpetrators to justice.

Talk to your college

If your perpetrator was the person you live with or someone who lives near you, talk to your university immediately to request a transfer. Report any hate crime activity to the appropriate college department to ensure your living conditions are safe. However, don’t depend on your college to get the police involved for you. While some colleges provide excellent support to students in times like these, others have been averse to generating negative media attention and may go so far as to encourage students not to report crimes to outside agencies.

Get support

Most colleges, including distance education universities, offer counseling services, and some offer services specifically geared toward the LGBT community, minorities, and other groups that can be the target of hate crimes. It’s important to get the social support you need after a hate crime occurs—the crime can have a lasting psychological effect, even if it was not a violent crime.

Even more mild hate crimes—such as graffiti—can create a threatening environment for their targets on campus, and should never be tolerated. In addition, tolerance of more mild forms of hate crimes can often lead to more serious crimes later. If you have been the victim of a hate crime, be sure to report it to the proper authorities immediately—and be sure to get the support you need from mental health professionals, friends, and family.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennifer Williamson

Jennifer worked as a GED teacher for an adult education nonprofit for two years. Her students came from all walks of life, and ranged in age from sixteen to sixty-eight. During that time, she became knowledgeable about the unique needs of non-traditional and adult learners. She counseled hundreds of students about their higher education options, including online degree programs.

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