Bias | Be There

Listening, supporting, encouraging, and just being there can really make a difference in a friend’s life.

Here are some ways to support a friend experiencing bias.

—————————

Things to Remember…

Avoid challenging the details of the incident. Your goal is to support your friend to cope with her or his emotional reactions to the incident
Unintentional bias can hurt just as much as intentional bias
Work towards making the campus an inclusive and caring community (don’t respond to bias with more bias)

Be There For Your Friend By…

Validating her or his emotions
Listening without judging – emotional support is critical
Allowing them to cry and express their emotions
Offering to assist in reporting the incident to Public Safety
Continuing to check up on them over time
Using this occurrence as an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about civility and multiculturalism
Directing them to resources to help them (e.g., offering to call or walk them to the Counseling Center [x5005] or the Office of Intercultural Development [x5082])

Additional Resources. . .

Lafayette’s Bias Response Team