Carthage’s Bias Education Response Team (BERT for short) responds to bias incidents that occur on campus or among members of the Carthage community. BERT consists of Carthage faculty and staff.
Bias incidents are incidents in which speech or expressive conduct is directed toward an individual or group that is based on or motivated by the individual or group’s real or perceived gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, ability/neuro-ability, gender identity/expression, national origin, military/veteran status, and/or age. Bias incidents may include elements that are motivated by bias, but that are protected by the First Amendment and do not meet the necessary criteria required to prove a crime or a violation of college policy. Bias incidents negatively impact others and/or cause harm.
Led by the College’s BERT Committee that reviews and documents incidents, collects data, and provides support and educational programming to all affected. The team is not designed to conduct investigations of incidents, but rather support the College in its investigations.
BERT works in collaboration with the Office of Student Life to respond to bias incidents with educational programs, support for students and groups affected by the incidents, and advocacy to address the institutional inequities that may have contributed to these incidents.
More about Bias Incident Response and BERT
