Racial Awareness - Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity

Introduction

Racism poisons the community and negatively harms all of us in different ways. Racism affects the ability of an individual or group of individuals to make progress in their academic and professional pursuits.

The purpose of this publication is to inform the campus community that The University of Iowa abhors racist behavior and to encourage everyone to assess his or her attitude about racism.

While it is easy to see the harm caused by blatantly hateful actions, even subtle or unintentional remarks or actions that are based on race can be discriminatory and deeply injure or anger.

The University of Iowa Human Rights Policy, Title VI, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Executive Order 11246 prohibit discrimination based on race.

Definition of Terms

Prejudice: An opinion for or against someone or something without adequate basis. Prejudice is different from racism.

Racism:
A systematic form of oppression that discriminates against individuals or groups based on their race and confers advantages on a privileged group.

Race Discrimination
When discriminatory decisions or actions are based on race.

Identifying the Problem

The following examples may illustrate offensive and/or discriminatory actions that can occur at the University.

• Failing to recruit, hire, train or assign responsibility to a person because he or she is of a different race.; • Denying individuals the opportunity for growth because of their race.; • Assuming that hiring or advancement of a person is based solely on his/her racial identity.; • Defining a student's potential or performance by his or her membership in an ethnic group.; • Engaging in a discussion with a member of a different racial group only when the topic is race.; • Seeing only the differences between yourself and a co-worker or a student of another race.; • Assuming people of different races are immigrants.
What To Do

Listed below are some things you can do to promote racial awareness.

• Do learn about other cultures and lifestyles to broaden your knowledge.

• Do remain sensitive to the effect of your actions and words on people of different races. What you consider to be acceptable or "no big deal" may actually be offensive to another.

• Do try to break down some of the barriers that exist between people of different races. You might be surprised to find that you have things in common which may lead to new and interesting friendships.

• Do apologize if you offend someone.

• Do mentor students and colleagues of different races.

What Not To Do

Avoid the following behaviors that may suggest a racist attitude.

• Do not assume that an individual member of a group represents or can speak for the attitudes, opinions, and beliefs of the whole group.; • Do not decide if you will interact with someone based solely on his/her race.; • Do not use or tolerate language that is disrespectful, intimidating, or belittling to people of different races.
Racial Awareness

How often do you:: • Challenge others on racially derogatory comments?; • Refuse to participate in jokes that are racially derogatory?; • Get to know people from different cultures and groups as individuals?; • Disregard physical characteristics when making decisions about competence or ability?; • Learn about and appreciate the richness of other cultures and respect their holidays and events?; • Listen to the issues that are important to other groups?; • Follow and reinforce University and departmental policies regarding equal treatment?
Educational Programs

The Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity offers educational programs on diversity awareness. For a list of these, see Educational Programs. For more information, please contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity for more information, 319/335-0705 (voice) or 319/335-0697 (text).

Education can help prevent violations, which may lead to disciplinary action ranging from verbal warning to separation or termination from The University of Iowa. Complaints of discrimination may be filed with the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity. For more information on filing, see Procedures for Discrimination Complaints.

If You Experience Harassment or Discrimination

Complaints alleging violations of the University's Policy on Human Rights (based on race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, and affectional or associational preference) may be pursued in several places on campus, including the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity.

Copies of the Human Rights Policy and the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Procedures for Discrimination Complaints are available upon request from the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity.

Additional Resources

Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity
202 Jessup Hall
319/335-0705 (voice)
319/335-0697 (text)

UI Human Rights Committee
319/335-3557

Office of the Ombudsperson
C108 Seashore Hall
319/335-3608