Hate Crimes on Campus

When a hate crime occurs on a college campus, the ideal of a university as a place for learning and growth is ruptured. Bias-motivated violence or threats targeting students, staff, or faculty not only impair the educational mission of an institution of higher learning but also deprive young men and women of the chance to live and learn in an atmosphere free of fear and intimidation. No college campus is immune to the risk of hate violence. In the past 5 years alone, the U.S. Department of Justice has brought criminal civil rights actions against students attending institutions ranging from small liberal arts colleges in Massachusetts and Georgia to large state universities in Florida and California. This monograph examines four aspects of the problem of bias, prejudice, and hate crimes on our college and university campuses. First, the monograph examines the prevalence of hate crimes on campuses, who is targeted, what kinds of crime are committed, and the frequency and impact of bias incidents. Second, the monograph identifies common problems college communities have experienced in responding to hate crimes and provides recommendations for prompt, effective, and appropriate responses. Third, the monograph describes several promising efforts to respond to campus hate crimes and implement prevention programs. Finally, the monograph explains the difference between hate crimes and bias incidents and discusses the factors police consider to determine whether a hate crime has been committed.