Responding to a Fictional Bias-related Incident

The response of college communities to situations involving bias, hate-motivated incidents, and free speech has been in the spotlight in recent years. As Grinnellians, we are neither immune to the possibility of these incidents, nor the difficulties that arise in their wake.

During a recent Community Hour in the Bucksbaum Center’s Sebring-Lewis Hall, a simulation was held and included a panel of people who would have roles as key responders. More than 160 staff, faculty, students, and community members turned out for the event, which was modeled on the Fred Friendly Seminars series that ran on PBS from 1981-2009. The panel roles were played by:

• Angela Onwuachi-Willig ’94 (Moderator), Chancellor's Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley
• Andrea Conner, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Grinnell College
• Morgane Garnier ’19, 2016 Rosenfield Program Intern, Center for Constitutional Rights, Grinnell College
• Frank Harty, Legal Counsel for Grinnell College
• Alice Herman ’18, Scarlet & Black News Editor, Grinnell College
• Lakesia Johnson, Chief Diversity Officer, Assistant Vice President, and Associate Professor, Grinnell College
• Raynard S. Kington, President, Grinnell College
• Mike Latham, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean, Grinnell College
• Debra Lukehart, Vice President for Communications, Grinnell College
• Dennis Reilly, Chief of Police, City of Grinnell
• Henry Reitz ’89, Chair of Faculty and Professor, Grinnell College
• Kathleen Richardson, Dean of the School of Journalism, Drake University, and former Editor, Des Moines Register
• James Shropshire, Director of Campus Safety, Grinnell College
• Mark Stringer, Executive Director, ACLU of Iowa
• Summer White ’18, President, Student Government Association, Grinnell College

The inclusion of such a diverse array of figures acknowledges that what happens when an incident occurs needs a coordinated effort by college staff, local authorities, and others.

Moderator Angela Onwuachi-Willig ’94, using a case-based approach and the Socratic teaching method, opened the panel discussion by illustrating why such events can be so challenging to react to — how they affect us both personally and professionally, address issues of free speech and inclusivity, and require a thoughtful and coordinated response when tensions are running high. She prompted panelists to openly and honestly discuss what actions they would take, within their hypothetical roles at the hypothetical “Betterment University.” After introducing each panelist to the audience, she shared what was characterized as initial information in a fictitious bias-motivated incident:

At 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6th, two students, a couple, were walking down Clover St. on their way to the library when a yellow Mustang slowed and two or three people shouted racial epithets at the couple. A bystander witnessed the incident and snapped a photo of the car. The couple, an African American student and a Latinx student, was deeply shaken; the two students sought assistance from the Office of Student Life.

What followed was an hour-long discussion, with panelists taking in turn to share the questions they would have and actions they would take in response to the incident.

Onwuachi-Willig periodically added new information. As the scenario played out, panelists were consistently engaged in representing their role and the perspective it had on the unfolding incident at the fictitious institution.

Conducting a simulation of this nature increased awareness of the way a dynamic situation unfolds and the myriad issues and considerations with which people in different roles approach it. In the end, it helps prepare the campus community for similar events if they happen on our own campus.