Strengthening Our Community Amid Conflict

Brown University takes the strongest possible stance against bias, harassment and discrimination and is committed to ensuring a respectful and inclusive learning environment.

Strengthening Our Community Amid Conflict

Brown University takes the strongest possible stance against bias, harassment and discrimination and is committed to ensuring a respectful and inclusive learning environment.

Strengthening Our Community

Amid geopolitical conflict that continues to create discord on university campuses across the country, Brown has created this Strengthening Our Community site, sharing how we are taking steps to secure the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff as we also uphold the core academic values at the heart of our mission.

Here, we share many of the actions and initiatives recently launched and being developed across the University to continue our fight against racism, discrimination and harassment — including the rise of antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian and anti-Israeli discrimination; to keep our campus safe; and to support our commitment to academic freedom and freedom of expression, the bedrock of our teaching and learning community.

We have a long record of commitment to these values, and this website reflects the dedication of many community members spanning Brown’s academic and administration enterprise to safeguard this commitment.

Leadership Communications

Messages to the community acknowledge the difficult moment in which we find ourselves, and offer support, resources and guidance to those who live, work and study at Brown.

It is essential that our actions as a University community remain grounded in our mission of advancing knowledge and understanding within a caring and inclusive environment. Adhering to these values is especially important because of – not in spite of – the nature of a conflict that is deeply personal for so many, and the tensions and divisions it has created on campus

— President Christina H. Paxson

Strengthening our community amid conflict
February 5, 2024 — Christina H. Paxson, President
Discrimination and harassment compliance reorganization
January 31, 2024 — Christina H. Paxson, President
Priorities for Spring 2024
January 24, 2024 — Christina H. Paxson, President
New resources for care and community at Brown
(Authentication Required), December 15, 2023 — Sylvia Carey-Butler, Vice President for Institutional Equity and Diversity; Eric Estes, Vice President for Campus Life and Student Services
New guide for managing social media harassment
(Authentication Required), December 6, 2023 — Cass Cliatt, Senior Vice President for Communications; Sharon Pitt, Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Remarks for Nov. 27, 2023, vigil of peace and healing
November 28, 2023 — Christina H. Paxson, President
Student victim of serious crime; being together as a community
November 26, — 2023 Christina H. Paxson, President
Remarks at Nov. 7, 2023, faculty meeting on campus safety, harassment and discrimination, and academic freedom
November 7, 2023 — Christina H. Paxson, President
FAQ on freedom of expression, protest and related policies
November 3, 2023 — Francis J. Doyle, III, Provost; Eric Estes, Vice President for Campus Life and Student Services; Marie Williams, Vice President of Human Resources

Read All

Enhancing Title VI Response

Confronting bias, discrimination and harassment

We continue to ensure that all who live, work and study at Brown know the resources available to them for reporting any instance of bias, discrimination or harassment, or any circumstance where they might feel unsafe. Brown is enhancing its Title VI response (named after the federal law) after a winter 2023 review of our policies, organizational structures, reporting processes, resources and other aspects of the University’s responsibilities related to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

Brown’s Title VI Response

Building Understanding of Bias

The Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity (OIED) has developed programming and resources to help the Brown community build understanding around the issues of antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian and anti-Israeli harassment and discrimination, as well as the enduring issues of all forms of racism.

The issues OIED is currently elevating in its programming predate and transcend the current geopolitical conflict, but we recognize they are being felt acutely by members of our community as violence and conflict escalate, with reverberations being felt globally and on campus.

Resources

OIED is committed to equipping the campus community with the requisite educational tools necessary to recognize and confront antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian and anti-Israeli discrimination when they encounter it, as well as all forms of racism. Resources include federal fact sheets and international guidance.

Find Resources

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OIED Spring 2024 Programming

OIED collaborates with offices across Brown to design, implement and promote programs and events that help the Brown community continue to confront issues of racism, harassment and discrimination, and to ensure that Brown is an empathetic, caring and compassionate community

View OIED Spring 2024 Programming

Promoting Dialogue & Freedom of Expression

During intense periods of local, national and global conflict, important questions about the policies that govern academic freedom and freedom of expression come to the forefront on the Brown campus and at other colleges and universities around the country. Throughout the Spring 2024 semester, the Office of the Provost, the Faculty Executive Committee and academic units from around campus are convening a series of events to discuss the bedrock principle of academic freedom and the broader debates it has inspired on college campuses and beyond.

Academic Freedom Events

Student Engagement & Experience

Student Engagement Experience

The Division of Campus Life works with and supports all Brown undergraduate, graduate and medical students to ensure their academic and personal success. Across the Spring 2024 semester, Campus Life departments are offering programs, workshops and events to build skills for engaging in dialogue; deepen understanding and engagement with complex issues relevant to current campus climate; provide individual and community care; and support the development of healthy practices for open inquiry and building relationships across differences.

Community & Equity Programming

Long-Established Commitment

Our community has a well-established history of working together to build a stronger Brown through moments of intense conflict. In the last decade alone, multiple initiatives have leveraged the leadership of academic and administrative units across campus, as well as student-led initiatives, to build bridges across differences.

Working Together

Events

True to the mission of Brown, many members of our community are leading efforts on campus and beyond to broaden and deepen understanding through scholarship, education, community gatherings and forums for discussion. The issues that underpin the Middle East conflict – as well as enduring issues around racism and discrimination affecting populations around the world – are complex. Multiple academic and administrative units at Brown bring significant expertise to opportunities for community members to learn about and discuss these issues.

Upcoming Events