The JBAR Student Guide to Reporting Antisemitism On Campus

This Student Guide - Reporting Antisemitism On Campus (“Guide”) provides guidance to you (“You” or “Your”) on (1) what constitutes reportable antisemitic conduct and (2) Your options for reporting such conduct.

WHEN can You file a Report?

New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination (“LAD”) and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VI”) prohibit discrimination against people based on their background or national origin. You may be discriminated against based on Your Jewish identity and/or identity as an Israeli student.  Neither type of discrimination should be tolerated. 

Specifically, there are two circumstances when You should file a Report

1)      You are a Victim of a Bias Incident

A “Bias Incident” occurs when You are physically or psychologically injured or threatened through verbal, written, physical, or psychological acts, based on Your identity as a Jewish or Israeli student. If You are the victim of a Bias Incident, You should file a report (see “Where can You file Your report”, below).

2)     You are a Victim of Discrimination

For the purposes of this Guide, actionable “Discrimination” occurs when a  campus has become a hostile environment for You, based on Your identity as a Jewish or Israeli student.

A “hostile environment” exists when the conduct of a professor, university staff member, student organization, or group of students is objectively offensive (i.e., most people observing the conduct would find it offensive) and so severe or pervasive that it limits Your access to any facility, service, activity, or privilege provided by Your University because of Your identity as a Jewish or an Israeli student. Your access may be limited either (1) physically or (2) due to Your fear, extreme discomfort, or other negative feelings. If a hostile environment is occurring on Your campus, You should file a report.

WHERE can You file Your report?

There are several options for filing reports, each summarized below. Although You may choose any of these options, it is important to note that Your University will likely provide the fastest response to a report. Make sure to also see “Additional Help and Information” below for further guidance on seeking assistance with filing reports.

1. At Your University 

Every university has a system for reporting discrimination and Bias Incidents. To easily access Your University’s forms and policies regarding reporting incidents, use the QR Code on the card/magnet included with this Guide. That QR Code links to the Jewish Bar Association of New Jersey’s (“J-Bar”) University Resources Page (the “University Resources Page”), which provides links to most New Jersey universities’ instructions for reporting discrimination and Bias Incidents.  

IMPORTANT NOTE: In addition to, or instead of, filing a bias incident report, You may want to file a code of conduct violation report (a “Conduct Incident Report”). Most universities have codes of conduct for students, student organizations, faculty, and staff. Reporting code of conduct violations using Conduct Incident Reports is particularly appropriate and helpful when the incident may not, or does not, rise to the level of criminal conduct but still violates Your University’s policies against discrimination or LAD, which should be reflected in Your University’s code of conduct. Use the QR Code provided with this Guide to access the University Resources Page, which contains links to most New Jersey universities’ Conduct Incident Report forms. 

2.            With the State of New Jersey

The New Jersey Division of Civil Rights (“DCR”) enforces LAD. LAD prohibits discrimination at Your University (which is considered a “Place of Public Accommodation” under LAD). For information on filing a complaint with the DCR, see the document titled “Filing a Complaint with the New Jersey Division on Civil RIghts,” contained on J-Bar’s University Resources Page. 

Note that the DCR will not investigate Bias Incidents committed by individual students. However, it will investigate a university’s failure to remedy such incidents. 

3.            With the U.S. Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) enforces Title VI, which prohibits discrimination. You should only report Discrimination to the OCR. You can file a report with the OCR at https://ocrcas.ed.gov/. You can also contact the OCR office with jurisdiction over New Jersey by calling (646) 428-3900 or emailing [email protected].

HOW to file Your Report?

Best Practices for Filing Reports:

1. Do not wait to report a serious incident. It is easier for the applicable authority to investigate incidents soon after they have occurred. In addition, certain agencies have time limits on how long You have to report an incident.

2. Include EVERYTHING. Include as much evidence as possible in the report, including, but not limited to videos, photos, and audio recordings. 

3. Be Detailed! When You fill out a report, include as much detail as possible.

4. Tell the Truth. Never include false or misleading information in a report.

WHAT NEXT?

1. Can Your university retaliate?

No. Title VI and the LAD prohibit schools from retaliating against a person who asserts their rights under Title VI and/or the LAD, including opposing practices or acts that are unlawful such as reporting or protesting about discrimination. If Your University retaliates against You for engaging in protected conduct, it may be in violation of these laws and we strongly recommend that You consult with an attorney.  

2.            Should You call the University Police Department (“UPD”)?

Yes, in certain situations. You should not hesitate to call UPD if You (a) are the victim of physical violence; (b) have received threats of physical violence; or (c) believe a crime has been committed.

3.            What if UPD is the perpetrator of a Bias Incident or Discriminates against You?

Report UPD’s conduct. If UPD has caused or perpetrated a Bias Incident or discriminated against You, You also have the option of following the above steps to report the UPD. You may also contact Your local non-University Police Department, located in the Municipality in which the offense occurred, to make a formal report.

4.            What if the perpetrator is faculty or another University staff member?

Check Your University’s Policies/Code of Conduct. At most universities, the reporting process is different when a faculty or staff member is involved. This typically begins with speaking to Your advisor and/or the Chair of the applicable department. The University Resources Page contains links to many New Jersey universities’ policies and codes of conduct applicable to faculty or staff and instructions on reporting faculty and staff. 

UNIVERSITY LINKS AND RESOURCES

Rutgers University - New Brunswick:

Incident Reporting Forms:

Student Misconduct:

Student or Student Organization Reporting Form

You may report misconduct to the Office of Student Affairs Compliance at 848-932-8576.

For more information on student conduct, see the Code of Student Conduct and Frequently Asked Questions regarding complaints.

Bias Incidents:

Bias Incident Reporting Form

For more information on bias reporting and the bias response process, see the Bias Outreach, Restoration, and Education Webpage.

Reporting Faculty or Staff

For guidance on reporting an incident perpetrated by a faculty or staff member, contact the Office of the Ombudsperson for Students at (848) 932-1452.

You can report faculty or staff members to University Human Resources at 848-932-3020.

Additional Resources:

For more information on the Office of the Ombudsperson for Students, see the Office of the Ombudsman for Students webpage on “Important Things You Should Know.” 

For more information on the rules governing faculty and staff members, see the Code of Ethics. 

Rutgers University - Newark:

Incident Reporting Form:

All Incident Reporting Form 

Additional Resources:

For more information, see Rutgers Newark’s “Reporting” webpage. 

Rutgers University - Camden:

Incident Reporting Form:

Student Code of Conduct Incident Reporting Form 

Additional Resources:

Table of University Department phone numbers and guidance on which to contact regarding different types of incidents

For more information on bias, see the Bias Response Committee Webpage. 

Rider University:

Incident Reporting Forms:

Student Code of Conduct Incident Reporting Form 

Bias Incident Reporting Form

Additional Resources:

For additional information regarding reporting incidents, see the Rider University’s “Report and Support” webpage.

For information regarding Student Complaint Procedures and links to Rider University codes and policies, see Rider University’s “Student Complaint Procedures” webpage.

Rowan University:

Incident Reporting Forms:

Community Standards (Student Code of Conduct) Incident Reporting Form 

Discrimination/Harassment/Retaliation Incident Reporting Form

Additional Resources:

Rowan University Webpage with links to Rowan University policies and guidance on reporting. 

Rowan University’s “Procedures for Addressing Allegations of Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation”

Montclair State University:

Incident Reporting Forms:

Bias Incident Reporting Form

University Employee Incident Reporting Form

Additional Resources: 

Student Code of Conduct Incident Reporting Guidance

For additional Information on Reporting Bias Incidents, see the Montclair State University’s “Report an Incident” webpage and the other linked websites on the webpage.

Montclair State University Student Code of Conduct 

For information regarding filing grievances against professors and related information, see the Montclair State University’s “Reporting a Student Grievance” webpage . 

New Jersey Institute of Technology:

Incident Reporting Form:

All Incidents Reporting Form

Additional Resources:

For more information, see: https://www.njit.edu/dos/bias-response; https://www.njit.edu/dos/reporting.  

For an alternative means of raising a complaint about a professor, see Student Complaints on the page linked here: https://www.njit.edu/dos/reporting. 

Kean University:

Incident Reporting Form:

All Incidents Reporting Form 

Additional Resources:

For more information, see Kean University’s “Community Standards and Student Conduct Q & A” webpage. 

Students who believe they have been subjected to discrimination or harassment should report the incident to the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at 908-737-3372.

For information on reporting, see the “Student Support Services Guide” on assisting students in distress.

William Paterson University:

Incident Reporting Forms:

Student Code of Conduct Incident Reporting Form

Bias Incident Reporting Form: 

University Police Department Incident Reporting Form (for anonymous reporting)

Additional Resources: 

For more information on bias prevention at  Kean University, see Kean University’s “Bias Prevention and Education Team” webpage.  Stockton University:

Incident Reporting Forms:

Student Code of Conduct Incident Reporting Form

Bias Incident Reporting Form

Additional Resources: 

For more information regarding reporting, please see Stockton University’s “Bias Prevention Education & Review” webpage and its “How Do I Report…?” webpage. 

The College of New Jersey:

Incident Reporting Forms:

All Incidents Reporting Form

Bias Incident Reporting Form

Additional Resources:

For more information on bias reporting at the College of New Jersey, see its “Bias Reporting FAQ” webpage.

For more information on student conduct, see the College of New Jersey’s “Policies” webpage. 

Ramapo College:

Incident Reporting Forms:

Student Code of Conduct Incident Reporting Form 

Bias Incident Reporting Form

Additional Resources:

For more information on student conduct and discipline, see Ramapo College’s “Student Conduct” webpage and its Office of Student Conduct “Frequently Asked Questions” webpage.  

For more information on Ramapo College’s policies and procedures regarding bias incidents, see its “Bias Incident Response” webpage. 

Fairleigh Dickinson University:

For information on incident reporting, see Fairleigh Dickinson University’s “Non-Title IX Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and related Misconduct Policy and Procedures”.  

Seton Hall:

For information on reporting bias incidents at Seton Hall, see its “Bias Education Support Team” webpage.

Princeton University:

Incident Reporting Form:

Bias Incident Reporting Form

Additional Resources:

For additional information on reporting at Princeton University, see its “Bias, Discrimination, and/or Harassment” webpage.  

Monmouth University:

Incident Reporting Form:

Bias Incident Reporting Form 

Additional Resources:

For additional information on reporting bias at Monmouth University, see its “Discrimination and Harassment” webpage.  

Stevens Institute of Technology:

Incident Reporting Form:

All Incidents Reporting Form

Additional Resources:

For information on bias incident investigations at Stevens Institute of Technology, see its “Bias Incident Investigations” webpage.

Drew University:

Incident Reporting Form:

Bias Incident Reporting Form 

Additional Resources:

For additional information on Drew University’s policies regarding bias, discrimination, and harassment, see its “Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment”.

NEED MORE HELP?

Additional Help and Information:

If You are a victim of discrimination or a Bias Incident, there are organizations that may be able to provide further advice and assistance. These include:

1. The Anti-Defamation League (“ADL”) https://www.adl.org/report-incident; 

2. StandWithUs – Campus: https://www.standwithus.com/campus; and 

3. Brandeis Center: https://brandeiscenter.com/get-legal-help/). 

In addition, there are many attorneys who may be of assistance. If You would like to consult with a New Jersey licensed attorney, You can contact J-Bar at 201-472-5120 for a referral.