Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT)
RespectNU | Our Community | Report Bias and Hate Incidents
How To Submit A Report | Emergencies
BIRT and Respect NU
The Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) is a group of administrators who are committed to creating a proactive response to instances of hate and bias. When a student reports a bias/hate incident through Respect NU one of the BIRT members will support the student, connect them with the appropriate resources, and follow-up with them until the situation has been resolved.
BIRT and RespectNU are:
- Systems that will assist students who report bias or hate incidents
- Dedicated to fostering a welcoming and inclusive campus community for all students
- Action oriented initiatives that will provide early intervention and education on acts of bias and hate for the campus community
BIRT and Respect NU are not:
- Investigative units (BIRT will connect students with the Student Conduct Office or the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access as appropriate)
- Replacements for existing reporting or support mechanisms at NU
- Crisis or emergency services. Any student in need of police intervention or immediate assistance should call the Northwestern University Police Department at 847-491-3246 or, if the student is not on campus, local police at 911.
Bias Incident Response Team
| Name | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Lesley-Ann Brown, Ph.D, Chair | Director | Campus Inclusion and Community |
| Catherine Owney, Ph.D | Assistant Director of Residential Services | Residential Services |
| Ellen Fingado |
Assistant Director of Student Conduct | Office of Student Conduct |
| Jason Hanson | Coordinator for Student Organizations | Center for Student Involvement |
| Tahera Ahmad | Associate University Chaplain | Office of Religious Life |
| Devin Moss | Director of the LGBT Resource Center | Multicultural Student Affairs |