Across the country and on our campuses.
We must come together and take an active role in stopping hate.
From vandalism and graffiti to negative and harmful interpersonal interactions, daily indignities and other acts of hate disrupt living, learning and working environments and harm students, faculty, and staff. At Rutgers, we believe that bias incidents that target individuals because of their race, religion, gender/gender identity, socioeconomic status, and sexuality are unacceptable wherever and whenever they occur.
We reject hatred and call on all members of the Rutgers community to offer respect in words and actions toward each other, especially when we disagree — that is the difference between being in proximity and being in a community.
It is not enough to denounce hate and bigotry directed at people who look like us or share our culture or experiences. To be a vibrant and inclusive community, we must collectively reject hate. Each of us must take a stand against bigotry and hatred directed at any of us. We can vehemently disagree, but we must insist on each others' dignity as human beings and the sanctity of our lives.
Daily indignities and other acts of bias disrupt learning and working environments and harm members of our community. The silence of others who witness these vile acts increases the negative impact. Speak up! Commit to calling out everyday bigotry when you witness it. Do not assume that someone else will. Learn how to be an active bystander and accept the university’s call to “Speak Up and disrupt everyday bigotry.”
Dehumanization begins with language describing a group or a person as “less-than” or “subhuman,” such as likening people to animals, aliens, objects, or as inherently morally inferior. When we dehumanize people, it creates a psychological separation, which makes it easier to allow or commit violence against them. We don’t have to be ideologically aligned to affirm our shared humanity.
Experiencing hatred is isolating and harmful. Check-in on your classmates and colleagues. A culture of care starts with each of us attending to one another’s feelings and intrinsic needs to be seen, respected, heard, and valued. We cannot stop the hateful actions of others, but we must all play a role in repairing the harm.
Speak Up! is a university-wide bias prevention campaign. A call to action for all university community members to respond when they observe bigotry and to be vigilant about disrupting personally held bias.
We want to address issues quickly when they arise and have several methods through which you can report a bias incident. If you are looking for counseling and wellness support, several resources are available. Look at the dropdown menu below to find the right resource to meet your needs.
| Chancellor-led Unit | Bias Reporting | Counseling |
|---|---|---|
| Rutgers–New Brunswick | Dean of Students | Counseling, Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) |
| Rutgers–Newark | Dean of Students | Counseling Center |
| Rutgers–Camden | Dean of Students | Student Wellness Center Psychological and Counseling Services |
| Rutgers Health | Student Affairs units within the respective schools |
| Bias Reporting | Office of Employment Equity |
| Wellness | Human Resources Wellness Resources |
| Confidential Support Line | Rutgers4U, 1-855-652-6819, offers emotional and therapeutic support |
Visit the Hate Kills webpage to check out the trailers of the films that revisit the horror and lasting impact of four recent tragedies motivated by hate: the 2015 Charleston massacre (anti-Black racism), the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting (homophobia), the 2017 Victoria Islamic Center fire (Islamophobia), and the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue massacre (antisemitism). Do not look away.
To effectively combat hate, we must start by unpacking its causes.
Revisit the 2021 Unpacking Hate webinar series. Explore the videos, insightful articles, and learning tools.
When an act of bias or hate affects our community, you may experience a range of emotions, including anger, fear, isolation, stress, uncertainty, and concern for your personal safety and that of others. Hate takes its toll, and we all need to be mindful about self-care in its wake.
Watch recordings from our Spring 2024 university-wide speaker series, "Navigating Tensions, Affirming Community," and documentary series, "Reject Hate." Both encourage us to embrace our shared humanity, acknowledging its messiness and contradictions.
Do your part and engage.