Monitoring
Although this situation may not be ongoing actively, the Racist & Bias Incident Response Team is working with appropriate departments to monitor and prevent future reoccurrence. Those who believe they have been the target of bias, intolerance or discrimination may report an incident to the public incident report form (bias and intolerance) or the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (sexual misconduct and discrimination).
Please direct any questions or concerns in regard to this bias incident to the RBIRT Manager at RBIresponse@utah.edu.
What happened
On March 4, 2024, a staff member from the LGBT Resource Center found stickers with QR codes that linked to an anti-LGBTQIA+ biased website (gaysagainstgroomers.com). The stickers were on the front door of the Resource Center and also on a flyer calling for LGBTQIA+ research participants.
What is being done
The incident was reported to the University of Utah Police Department for further investigation and the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (OEOAA).
The posters with the stickers were taken down as the stickers did not comply with the University of Utah posting policy 1-007.
If through the course of a review or investigation (by University Police, or other appropriate investigative body), the individual(s) responsible is identified, the Office of the Dean of Students (if confirmed to be a student), Human Resources (if confirmed to be an employee), or other appropriate leader will act within university policy designed to hold the individual(s) accountable and, if appropriate, provide additional education about the harm caused to the community by this type of behavior.
The University of Utah’s commitment
The University of Utah is a center of learning, with a vision that through education, we can impact our world for the better. Our foundational principles recognize our shared humanity and the dignity of all people. The university is committed to continue efforts that uplift and celebrate our campus community and enhance a sense of belonging.
What to do
If you see someone engaging in vandalism, damaging, or taking down posters note the location and notify a campus official. Stopping this type of behavior takes collective action. To learn more about how to incorporate bystander intervention into your approach, visit https://wellness.utah.edu/workshops-training/#bystander.
Support and resources
Counseling and support services are available from various entities on campus. Visit Campus Resources | #SAFEU (utah.edu) for more information.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Ana Ascencio, RBIRT Manager, at RBIresponse@utah.edu