The Bias Response Team (BRT), which consists of faculty, administrators, and students, offers an informal way for members of the LVC community who experience or observe instances of harassment or intimidation to talk confidentially with an objective but sympathetic listener about the character and seriousness of what they have seen or heard and consider an appropriate response.
The BRT is not a substitute for existing structures and procedures at the College that deal with allegations of harassment or intimidation, but a kind of "hot line" to which people can turn for immediate counsel and assistance in considering the character and gravity of instances of harassment or other acts of bias based on race, national or ethnic origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, or disability.
The Team functions as a non-bureaucratic, agile, and readily accessible forum, reporting directly to the President of the College.
We encourage members of our community to report incidents of harassment or other acts of bias to a member of the…
What is harassment? 
- The harassing conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it affects the terms and conditions of employment, or affects a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from an academic program or activity, or creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive work or educational environment due to an individual’s protected characteristic;
- The harassing conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially or unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance; or
- The harassing conduct otherwise adversely affects an individual’s employment or learning opportunities.
What are examples of harassing behavior?
Examples of harassing behavior on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion or sexual orientation include, but are not limited to, the following:
- intimidation and implied or overt threats of physical violence motivated by any of these protected characteristics;
- physical acts of aggression or assault upon another, damage to an individual’s property that is motivated by that person’s race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability or sexual orientation;
- demeaning racial jokes, epithets, taunting, racial slurs and derogatory racial nicknames, innuendos or other negative or derogatory remarks of a racial nature or relating to color, national origin, age, religion, disability or sexual orientation (depending upon circumstances and context);
- graffiti and/or slogans or visual displays such as cartoons or posters depicting slurs or derogatory sentiments based upon race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability or sexual orientation (depending upon circumstances and context);
- criminal offenses directed at persons because of their race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability or sexual orientation
What is a bias incident?
For the purposes of LVC’s Bias Response Team, a bias incident involves behavior (whether physical or verbal) that is motivated by bias based on actual or perceived race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, or disability, but that does not rise to the level of harassment.
It should be noted that while the expression of an idea or point of view may be offensive or inflammatory to some, it is not necessarily a violation of law or College policy. Lebanon Valley College values and embraces the ideals of freedom of inquiry, freedom of thought, and freedom of expression, all of which must be vitally sustained in a community of scholars.
What should I do if I believe that I am a victim of, or witness to, a bias incident?
If you become the victim of a bias incident, document the incident the best you can:
- If you see a written slur or discover graffiti, do not erase the words or images. The Department of Public Safety and the Annville Police will need to see it in order to document and photograph.
- If the incident was verbal, be sure to immediately document what was said, where it was said and when it was said.
- Get names and contact information of any witnesses.
Two forms of reporting are available to LVC students who believe that they are a victim of, or witness to, a bias incident.
- Students may report the incident to the BRT via the electronic form linked to this page.
- Students may contact a member of the BRT about the incident.
- Students may report the incident to the Director to Public Safety at (717) 867-6111, the Vice President for Student Affairs at (717) 867-6238, or the Dean of Students at (717) 867-6234.
What will Lebanon Valley College do if I report a bias incident?
- Reports of a bias incident to the BRT will be reviewed by the Team. The Team will offer immediate counsel and assistance in considering the character and gravity of the incident. They will may a recommendation regarding an appropriate response. These incidents may be shared with the broader community as appropriate.
- Reports of a bias or harassment incident to Public Safety, the Vice President of Student Affairs, or the Dean of Students will be promptly, thoroughly, and impartially investigated according to the provisions of the Student Conduct Code as set forth in the Student Handbook.
What is sexual harassment?
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature or other gender-motivated offensive conduct constitutes sexual harassment when:
- submission to or rejection of such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of the student’s education or academic success;
- submission to or rejection of such conduct by the students is used as the basis for academic decisions affecting the student;
- such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the student’s academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive academic environment.
Examples of sexually harassing behavior include, but are not limited to, the following:
- unwelcome verbal harassment or abuse of a sexual nature;
- unwelcome demands, threats, or pressure for sexual activity;
- unwelcome sexually motivated or inappropriate touching, petting, pinching, or other physical contact;
- unwelcome sexual behavior or words, including demands for sexual favors, accompanied by implied or overt threats concerning an individual’s employment or academic status;
- unwelcome behavior or communications (verbal or written) directed at an individual because of gender;
- the use of authority to emphasize the sexuality of a student in a manner that prevents or impairs the student’s full enjoyment of academic benefits, institutional climate, or educational opportunities;
- unwelcome sexually suggestive or obscene letters or notes;
- sexual rumors or name calling;
- unwelcome comments about one’s body or physical characteristics;
- unwelcome salacious jokes or stories or dehumanizing graffiti;
- unwelcome displays of suggestive pictures, cartoons or objects;
- assault or attempted assault which is gender-based.
What should I do if I believe that I am a victim of, or witness to, sexual harassment?
Students who believe that they are a victim of, or witness to, sexual harassment, should report the incident to the Director to Public Safety at (717) 867-6111, the Vice President for Student Affairs at (717) 867-6238, or the Dean of Students at (717) 867-6234.
Thank you for your help in making LVC a safe, friendly, and welcoming place for
all students, staff, and faculty.