HRC to Collect Bias Reports
A repository for collecting reports of bias and discrimination in the Swarthmore community may soon be launched. The Swarthmore Human Relations Commission has been working on the project since last summer. Several aspects are still being worked out.
The goal is “a better understanding of the pervasiveness of discrimination and bias in our community,” HRC member Kourtney Knop said at the group’s March 18 meeting. She said that the current plan would permit community members to record their testimonials via an online forum. The testimonials would be securely stored, with only commission members having access.
Part of the commission’s charge is to educate the community in order to prevent future discrimination. Knop explained that the information in the repository will guide the commission’s approach to fulfilling that mission.
Data might also be compiled and aggregated, with statistics released perhaps monthly or quarterly. “I would expect that, if we were made aware of three incidents involving Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the last three months, that’s something we would share,” said commission member Jasmeet Ahuja.
The commission might also share the outlines of particular incidents with authorities under certain circumstances. For example, “If someone says, ‘I reported this and nothing happened,’ that’s an opportunity for us to follow up,” Ahuja said. “The idea here is to record, understand, track — but also be a check if we find that our community isn’t fulfilling its duties.”
Ahuja, an attorney at Hogan Lovells — known for its privacy work — said the commission could collect this type of information because the information is being volunteered.
Knop noted that non-residents of Swarthmore could contribute to the repository if the incidents they reported affected borough citizens. For example, events involving students in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District could be included, she said.
Anyone who makes a report will be asked to describe where the incident took place, what the medium was (e.g., in person or via text message), and what happened. The name of the person reporting will be requested but not required.
“This is a great asset,’’ said Japbir Gill, who attended the meeting. Gill is a member of the group WSS Big IDEA, which works for more diversity and equity in the Wallingford-Swarthmore school district. “It would be great for our community,” he added.
Commission members are consulting with Swarthmore Borough solicitor Robert Scott before moving forward.
