Acts of Bias, Hate, Discrimination & Harassment

Russell Sage College is committed to preventing bias crime and bias-related behavior on our campuses. Toward that goal, Russell Sage College employs a variety of strategies, both proactive and reactive, that are intended to foster our institutional mission and values, including mutual respect and inclusivity, our commitment to equity, belonging, and a welcoming community where every individual feels valued and supported. 

Acts of Bias, Hate, Discrimination & Harassment can be reported on the Online Reporting Form or by contacting the Title IX and Title VI Coordinator – Amanda Bastiani at bastia@sage.edu, (518) 244-4809, or titleix@sage.edu.

All complaints of Bias, Hate, Discrimination & Harassment that fall outside of the Title IX and 129-B Policy may be reviewed and investigated using the Non-Discrimination & Anti-Harassment Policy and Procedure for Students and Employees available on the Title IX Office’s Policies and Procedures webpage.

Bias incidents are acts of conduct, speech, or expression that target individuals and groups based on age. citizenship, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, geographic origin, language, marital status, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.

A hate crime is a traditional offense that is motivated by bias. A person commits a hate crime when one of a specified set of crimes is committed targeting a victim because of a perception or belief about their race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation, or when such an act is committed as a result of that type of perception or belief. These crimes can target an individual, a group of individuals or public or private property.

Public Safety is required to remain in compliance with the requirements of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act by including data on reported Hate Crimes.

The College prohibits acts of Discrimination and Harassment by and against members of the Russell Sage Community such as faculty, staff and students, including hostile behavior that is engaged in on the basis of a person’s race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex (gender), sexual orientation, age, religion, religious creed, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, military status, citizenship status, and other status protected by law. View RSC’s Policies and Procedures online here.

Statement on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964:

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VI”) provides that “[n]o person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” 42 U.S.C. section 2009(d) et seq. Title VI protects members of the RSC community, including students, faculty, staff and visitors, from race, color, and national origin discrimination. This right extends to discrimination or harassment based on shared ancestry or perceived shared ancestry, or ethnic characteristics, citizenship, or residency in a country with a dominant religion or distinct religious identity. 

The Office of the Title IX Coordinator and EEO Specialist is also responsible for oversight of Title VI and RSC’s response to all reports and complaints of Title VI Misconduct. Members of the RSC community can File an Acts of Bias, Hate, Discrimination & Harassment report online, or by contacting the Title IX and Title VI Coordinator, Amanda Bastiani at bastia@sage.edu, 518-244-4809. 

RSC will act quickly to respond to any reports of race, color, and national origin discrimination.

Russell Sage College is required to disclose the occurrence of the following hate crimes when the motivation for the crime is the victim’s membership or perceived membership in a particular race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity or disability:

Russell Sage College did not experience any hate crimes in 2018, 2019 or 2020.  

The Board of Trustees and all of its committees have been charged with including an awareness of the need for diversity in all decision making. An Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has been created and its Director, Geoffrey Miller, charged with developing programming on both campuses.

Bias awareness training is conducted for all new students during their orientation and is required for all employees on a regular basis. Resident Assistants and Student Mentors are provided with additional training intending to help them recognize bias crime and respond to it in an appropriate manner. A cross section of employees has been trained in bias awareness and prevention strategies. Public Safety Officers are trained to identify such behavior and respond in an appropriate manner.

The Student Code of Accountability specifically prohibits such behavior and provides appropriate penalties. The Residence Hall contract includes a clause prohibiting such behavior and advocating diversity. The Employee Handbook specifically prohibits such behavior, provides appropriate penalties and identifies Cabinet-level officers as Compliance Officers.