The University of Minnesotas bias response team stands out for its free speech and academic protections, a survey of over 200 similar teams across the country found.
The report, published this month by the nonpartisan, nonprofit group Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, compared schools based on who reviews reports, what constitutes bias and whether the team agrees tension exists between bias reports and free speech.
The Universitys Bias Response and Referral Network fared better than many schools surveyed.
BRRN members say this is a result of concerted efforts to foster open conversation on campus during its formation last year. For the first nine months following its January 2016 launch, BRRN received about 25 reports.
The University did not immediately respond to a request for more recent data.
FIRE conducted the survey with the stance that tension between protecting free speech and addressing bias is unavoidable. About half of the 232 teams surveyed mention free speech on their websites or in their policies, the report found.
The Universitys BRRN page states the team is committed to safeguarding the free expression rights of all University members and considers whether an incident has implications for free speech or academic freedom when a report is made.
Additionally, the studys lead author, Adam Steinbaugh, said the Universitys definition of what constitutes a bias incident is one of the best hes seen.
Acts motivated by 14 specific characteristics, like race, disability and sexual orientation, are included in the Universitys definition. Definitions of bias at other schools, like the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and Dartmouth College, encompass political and social views, which could invite administrative and police surveillance of political activity, the report says.
Including strong free speech protections in the teams procedures was an easy decision, said Tina Marisam, University Title IX coordinator, Office for Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action director and BRRN member. She said the most effective response to a bias incident is often open conversation about its harmful effects.
Working to end bias, in our view, requires free speech and creating more opportunities for free speech, Marisam said.
The best bias response teams, Steinbaugh said, are clear about their limitations in order to avoid a chilling effect on free speech. In addition, they are not responsible for investigating reports or punishing students.
If theyre just trying to gather information about whats going on on campus, that doesnt have as much of a threat to freedom of speech as investigating people [does], he said.
To avoid such a chilling effect, the Universitys BRRN doesnt have any investigatory or disciplinary role, said BRRN member Karen Miksch. The team instead tracks local and national trends in bias reports and serves as a referral network to direct reporters to the appropriate resources, she said.
Forty-two percent of schools surveyed include law enforcement on their response teams, the survey said.
While police should investigate bias cases involving criminal conduct, it otherwise could lead to regulation of political activity and other speech, Steinbaugh said.
The Universitys group is among those that dont include law enforcement.
If members suspect an incident might require a police response, they forward the report to the University of Minnesota Police Department, according to the BRRN webpage.
In order to protect academic freedom, teams should include faculty, Steinbaugh said. The survey found that only 27 percent of teams do.
[If] they dont have faculty members on the team, that makes it less likely that the team is going to be able to say, Hey, this is an issue of academic freedom, Steinbaugh said.
Miksch is one of two faculty members on the Universitys BRRN. She was sought out for it because of her research background in academic freedom, she said.
She is also a member of the University Senates Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee.
This spring, Miksch will host free speech training for BRRN members. Only one school out of those surveyed Louisiana State University trains its members in First Amendment concerns.
At the training, BRRN members will consider potential bias scenarios and discuss how to foster open dialogue on campus, Miksch said.
The University is a place where people can have these kinds of debates and conversations but doesnt put up with what would be illegal or criminal, she said.
Here is the original post:
Report: UMN's bias response team poses little concern for free speech - Minnesota Daily
- Turkey's crackdown on freedom of speech intensifies [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Bill of Rights Transcript Text - National Archives and ... [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Freedom of Speech (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- 3 Muslims shot dead by Atheist || #muslimlivesmatter - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Media Studies 104A - 2015-02-10 - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Freedom of Speech in the 21st Century - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- GodTVRadio Show - Freedom of Speech - Katy Perry Garbage Music Industry Selling Image - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Freedom of Speech - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- USA Freedom of Speech and Jesus Christ - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Eddie Griffin Freedom of Speech - Eddie Griffin Stand Up Full [HD].... - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- France Arrests French Comedian Dieudonne 3 Days After Charlie Hebdo Freedom of Speech - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- GodTVRadio Show - Freedom of Speech - Science News - Zoophile Atheists Evolutionists Beastality Inter Species Sex - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- GodTVRadio Show - Freedom of Speech - Science News - Marijuana Causes Brain Damage - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Charlie Hebdo's "Freedom of Speech" - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- John Robertson on Greg Shapiro's United States of Europe - S3Ep01 - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Freedom of Speech - The GameOverGreggy Show Ep. 61 (Pt. 3) - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Charlie Hebdo, Zero Tolerance, and Freedom of Speech - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- The Illuminati: The Freedom of Speech 2015 Conspiracy - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Eddie Griffin 2015 - Eddie Griffin Freedom Of Speech - Eddie Griffin Stand Up.. - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Eddie Griffin Freedom Of Speech - Eddie Griffin Stand Up - Eddie Griffin 2015 [HD] - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- GodTVRadio Show - Freedom of Speech - Charles Darwin Racist Hallucinating Junkie Who Thought He Was A Monkey - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Muslims oppose insult to Islam in the name of freedom of speech - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Eddie Griffin Stand Up Full HD - Eddie Griffin Freedom of Speech.. - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Policy update restricts demonstrations [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2015]
- Italian senators pass bill criminalizing denial of genocides [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2015]
- Thousands of Muslims protest freedom of speech outside Downing street - Video [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2015]
- Eddie Griffin Stand Up Full HD - Eddie Griffin Freedom of Speech [Standing Up] - Video [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2015]
- Eddie Griffin Freedom of Speech - Eddie Griffin Stand Up Full HD.. (Best Comedians) - Video [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2015]
- Ali Belhadj Following Paris Attacks: France Cannot Give Us a Lesson in Freedom of Speech - Video [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2015]
- RE: HannibalTheVictor13's resentment over thunderf00t and his "freedom of speech". - Video [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2015]
- GodTVRadio Show - Freedom of Speech - Did God Make Atheists For Hell? - Video [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2015]
- Freedom of Speech, Dastak Ep158 - Video [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2015]
- Mamata advocates for freedom of speech - Video [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2015]
- One dead after shots fired at Copenhagen freedom of speech meeting [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- 1 dead in shooting at Copenhagen free speech event [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- Shots Fired at Copenhagen Free Speech Event: Reports [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- Shots fired at Copenhagen cafe free speech event [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- One man dead and three policemen wounded at freedom of speech seminar in Denmark [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- Copenhagen caf: two gunmen in terror attack at freedom of speech event [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- Michael Buerk Interview - Freedom of Speech & Paris Attacks - Video [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- 'Freedom Of Speech' Topic Tuesday #12 - Video [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- Freedom of Speech != Freedom of Forum - Video [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- Danish police kill man suspected of Saturday's attacks [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Political expression isnt criminal: group [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Copenhagen police kill suspect linked to two fatal attacks [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Copenhagen suspect known to police [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Free Speech Debate Still Alive After Attack in Denmark [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Danish PM Defends Freedom of Speech After Attacks [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Press - Lincoln University [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- freedom of speech...........Peter Caine /Brooklyn Dog training/NYC dog training - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Copenhagen Shooting: Deadly attack at free speech meeting with cartoonist who depicted Muh - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- We Need To Defend Our Freedom of Speech or We'll Lose It. - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Shots fired at Copenhagens Krudttoenden cafe free speech event a report - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Freedom of Speech: For Whom, to Say What? - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Media Studies 104A - 2015-02-12 - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Eddie Griffin Freedom of Speech - Eddie Griffin Stand Up Full HD [Stand Up Comedians] --- - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- WallBuilders Live 2015-02-11 Wednesday - Freedom of Speech on College Campuses - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- GodTVRadio Show - Freedom of Speech - Feminist Aborted Her Son Because He was a Boy - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- GodTVRadio Show - Freedom of Speech - Science News - Atheist Animal Sacrifices and Torture - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Yisrael Beytenu at Charlie Hebdo freedom of speech protest - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- GodTVRadio Show - Freedom of Speech - American Poll - Atheists Can't Be Trusted - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Freedom of speech, but... SHOTS - Video [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2015]
- Muslims Killing Atheists! - Video [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2015]
- AP Top Stories February 14 P - Video [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2015]
- Eddie Griffin Freedom of Speech - Eddie Griffin Stand Up Full [Best Comedians] ---- - Video [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2015]
- Eddie Griffin Freedom of Speech - Eddie Griffin Stand Up Full HD [Stand Up Live] --- - Video [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2015]
- Eddie Griffin Freedom of Speech - Eddie Griffin Stand Up Full Show HD --- - Video [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2015]
- Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson to Receive Freedom of Speech Award [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2015]
- Letters to the editor: We must do more to stop terrorists [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2015]
- Eddie Griffin Stand Up Freedom of Speech Best Comedy Show--- - Video [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2015]
- Freedom Of Speech Naam Ki Koi Chiz Hoti Hai - Alia Bhatt On AIB Controversy - Video [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2015]
- Copenhagen Shooting: Valentine's Day Shooting At Copenhagen Free Speech Event (VIDEO) - Video [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2015]
- Denmark: Police launch manhunt for Copenhagen cafe shooter - Video [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2015]
- Eddie Griffin Freedom of Speech - Eddie Griffin Best Stand Up Full HD--- - Video [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2015]
- Greenpeace activist refutes govt charge of being anti-national [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2015]
- Two minutes for heckling [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2015]
- Jailed Al Jazeera journalist concerned about freedom of speech [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2015]
- Fan claims municipal police violating freedom of speech [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2015]
- Jailed journalist concerned about freedom of speech [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2015]
- Freedom of speech denied outside of Skillet concert Pittsburgh - Video [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2015]