What happened
On the evening of April 26, 2022, an individual discovered some anti-trans/transphobic vandalism in one of the stalls of a men’s restroom in the Spencer Fox Eccles Business Building. On the wall of the stall, written in permanent marker, were the words “Trans women are men” accompanied by a smiley face. There is no way of definitively knowing when the stall was vandalized.
What is being done
The incident was reported to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (OEO/AA), the Racist and Bias Incident Response Team and to University Police, which has opened an investigation.
If you have any information related to this incident (or others) that may help, please report by filling out the form at the Office of the Dean of Students website. Or you can report to University of Utah Police by calling 801-585-2677 or filling out the Silent Witness form.
If, through the course of some review or investigation (by University Police, or other appropriate investigative body), the individual(s) responsible is identified, the Office of the Dean of Students (if confirmed to be a student), Human Resources (if confirmed to be an employee), or other appropriate leader, will act within university policy designed to hold the individual(s) accountable and, if appropriate, provide additional education about the harm caused to the community by this type of behavior.
What to do
Be vigilant and speak up. If you see someone engaging in vandalism, or talking about vandalizing university property, note the location and notify a campus official. If you are interested in learning more about the variety of resources the U offers to support diversity and inclusion, please visit the Office of the Dean of Students in the Union Building, Room 270, deanofstudents@utah.edu, 801-581-7066, or the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Park Building, Room 208, or https://diversity.utah.edu/our-team/. To make a report of a racist or bias incident, visit the public reporting form.
Stopping this type of behavior takes collective action, and bystander intervention efforts are one way of combatting conduct that can wrongfully be seen as a prank or joke but can cause real harm. To learn more about how to incorporate bystander intervention into your toolkit, check out the information here: https://wellness.utah.edu/workshops-training/#bystander.
The U is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion
Acts that demean, diminish, invalidate, and erase the experiences of trans and non-binary people will not be tolerated. Acts like this cause harm and diminish a sense of belonging and safety for our trans and non-binary staff, students, trainees, faculty, and other community members. We are striving to create a campus community where members find a place of safety and belonging, and have the space to explore, express, and celebrate their various identities. During a time when trans and non-binary people are increasingly being targeted and publicly singled out, the University of Utah supports trans and non-binary people and affirms that trans women are women.
Much like the University of Utah, the David Eccles School of Business is committed to creating safe, welcoming spaces throughout the business complex to ensure everyone can feel a sense of belonging. We recognize our community members come from many backgrounds, experiences, and identities. It is important we respect one another, work across our differences, and allow each other to thrive in all parts of our identities.
Bathrooms, in particular, have become a space where people who are trans or non-binary can feel vulnerable and unsafe. It is important all of us work to create an environment where our space is safe for every member of our community. We recognize there is still work to be done at the Eccles School and University of Utah as a whole, and single-occupancy, gender-inclusive bathrooms are located in SFEBB, GARFF, and BuC for anyone who would like to use them. For individuals seeking inclusive/all gender restroom availability, the U of U campus map has a filter for All Gender Restrooms under “Accessibility and Safety.”
While we will not tolerate such behavior, when done covertly, we cannot stop the act in the moment. We will continue to name the biased acts, investigate, and hold the perpetrators of these hateful acts accountable when they are identified. Additionally, we will continue efforts that uplift and celebrate our communities and enhance a sense of belonging on our campus, and strive to live our mission and lead with purpose.
Support and resources
If you have experienced or are impacted by biased or hateful behavior on our campus, we want to know so that we can address those acts quickly and provide support. Incidents can be reported to the Racist and Bias Incident Response Team here. Counseling and support services are available from several entities on campus: https://safeu.utah.edu/resources/
For trans and non-binary students, the LGBT Resource Center has online Trans Resources or can be visited in person in the Union. The Women’s Resource Center and University Counseling Center can provide confidential counseling services.
For trans and non-binary employees, Human Resources offers the Employee Assistance Program for counseling support. Anyone who is transitioning can seek additional support from HR for name changes and to work with colleagues on your team, if necessary. Additionally, the HR team has updated systems to include individuals’ chosen name, which includes the campus directory, Kronos, Bridge, new employee applications and more.
If you experience harassment or discrimination, visit the Office of Equal Opportunity, and please report.
For education to gain an understanding of trans and non-binary people, things affecting the trans and non-binary community, and how to be an advocate, The Trevor Project or the National Center for Transgender Equality are great places to start. U of U Health has created a Transgender Health Program, which is a great resource for trans and non-binary people, and also hosts several seminars that are educational for those interested in supporting the trans community.