02/12/2009
Our research on college campuses suggests that bias incidents and intolerance are far more frequent than one would expect. In the age of Obama, one would hope that there would be increase in tolerance toward different groups and in appreciation for the diverse citizenry of the US.
Campus Tolerance Foundation was established to measure tolerance toward minorities, womens safety from sexual assault and intellectual openness on campus.* The objective was to expose intolerance where it existed, to encourage administrations to address it. Also, to provide information to students and parents, which could be important and useful in their selection of a college.
Research indicated that there was a disturbing level of bias toward minorities. 43%-64% of the students reported either personally being the victim of a bias incident or witnessing someone else as the victim because of their group identity.(43% Columbia, 49% Berkeley and 64% Michigan State) A bias incident was defined as graffiti, verbal threats, physical threats, physical assaults.
Women's safety was also an unexpected problem. Between 22% (Columbia and Berkeley) and 52% (Michigan State)of the students said it is very likely or somewhat likely that a woman would be date raped or sexually assaulted on their campus.
Finally, there is no guarantee of intellectual diversity. Only 37% said that in class lectures, "You typically hear a variety of points of view from professors. 17% said class sessions "end up being mostly one-sided and missing key perspectives" and 40% said it was about half and half".
Although specific incidents have been in the press, the basic issues have not had much coverage. We feel it is essential to expose intolerance as the first step to diminishing it. Our children should be be able to assume that they will be safe and comfortable at their college.
*1039 undergraduates were recruited on Facebook and interviewed anonymously , from 4-8, 2007, as a Pilot Test. We have just completed research at 10 more universities. Results will be available shortly.
