Grinnell College officials say sexually-themed party was 'bias-motivated'

Grinnell College officials are investigating a sexually-themed party at the school earlier this month that's been deemed “bias-motivated” by campus officials.

The party, with a sexually-suggestive name, was held May 1 in the lounge at Clark Hall, one of Grinnell's residence halls. The “invitation-only” party was coordinated and attended by some of the school's male athletes, as it has been in the past, according to a news release from Grinnell College president Russell Osgood.

To read more about the incident, check out this story from Grinnell's Scarlet and Black student newspaper. (WARNING: Some of the terms used in the article are graphic and sexual in nature.)

Here's the remaining text of the college's news release:

At the event this year, approximately 150 bowls-- containing alcoholic jello shots for consumption that mimicked the party's name-- were individually labeled with the names of women students, staff, and coaches' relatives. A majority also included derogatory phrases along with the name. The labeling and phrases were misogynist, racist, ableist (discriminatory based on prejudice against people with disabilities, especially physical disabilities), and pedophilic in content and use.The college has deemed the event a bias-motivated incident, as defined in the most recent version of the Hate Crimes and Bias-Motivated Incidents Policy (see We want the campus community to know the acts associated with this event are a clear violation of the community we strive to build on our campus. Grinnell is an intimate and supportive community that values personal, egalitarian, and respectful interactions among all of its members. The naming and words expressed in the bowls contribute to a hostile climate that can be detrimental to the learning and working environment of all women affiliated with Grinnell College. We reassert that our campus should be a safe space for students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds and identities. We thank those who have come forward to report and disavow the event.The findings of the campus climate assessment point to the role of gender bias, sexism, and sexual harassment in our community. The bias-motivated incident sheds light on how they affect our relationships and interactions on campus in public and covert ways. The incident, and the debate about its merits and level of offensiveness, reminds us unequivocally that we must include gender and sex when developing diversity dialogues, initiatives, and policies. We have a great distance to traverse in dealing with sexism within our community, at large and within its subgroups.

The college has deemed the event a bias-motivated incident, as defined in the most recent version of the Hate Crimes and Bias-Motivated Incidents Policy (see http://www.grinnell.edu/file/40782). Approximately 75 empty bowls were discovered and reported by students over the weekend, which set into motion campus security investigations, student conduct processes, and the bias-motivated incident protocol. All of the women named were personally contacted by staff in the areas of Diversity & Achievement and Student Affairs.

We want the campus community to know the acts associated with this event are a clear violation of the community we strive to build on our campus. Grinnell is an intimate and supportive community that values personal, egalitarian, and respectful interactions among all of its members. The naming and words expressed in the bowls contribute to a hostile climate that can be detrimental to the learning and working environment of all women affiliated with Grinnell College. We reassert that our campus should be a safe space for students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds and identities. We thank those who have come forward to report and disavow the event.

The findings of the campus climate assessment point to the role of gender bias, sexism, and sexual harassment in our community. The bias-motivated incident sheds light on how they affect our relationships and interactions on campus in public and covert ways. The incident, and the debate about its merits and level of offensiveness, reminds us unequivocally that we must include gender and sex when developing diversity dialogues, initiatives, and policies. We have a great distance to traverse in dealing with sexism within our community, at large and within its subgroups.

All Grinnellians are invited to an all-campus forum-- currently being structured with those named, coaches, and others-- to be convened in JRC 101, Thursday, May 13 at 11 a.m. We ask that all members of the community respect the expressed desire to have this situation manifest into positive dialogue and action to improve our campus climate around issues of gender and sex at Grinnell.