Community Restoration Team
The Community Restoration Team is committed to creating a campus community that is safe and welcoming for all students, faculty, and staff.
Because bias, discrimination and prejudicial acts are antithetical to our university’s mission and the Ways of the Warrior, with sensitivity the Community Restoration Team (CRT) provides an opportunity to address these incidents while striving to create a better campus community.
Inclusive Excellence in Action
It is everyone’s responsibility to create an environment where we all feel safe. ESU’s diversity creates a unique campus experience that fosters learning, growth, and personal development. To exist on a campus that is free of bias, discrimination, and prejudice, we must all use our voices and stand up against language and behavior that is antithetical to our mission and values.
Our seven Ways of the Warrior reminds us that a Warrior is:
- A Champion of Social Justice
- Committed to Self-Growth
- Willing to Sacrifice for the Greater Good
- Positive, Honest, and Loyal
- Respectful of the Environment and Community
- Dedicated to Empowering Others
- Accountable for One’s Actions
We all play a vital role in holding each other accountable for creating an environment that values diversity, equity and inclusion. We encourage to you to report bias incidents or reach out to us for support. Together, as Warriors, we can create the campus community that we all deserve!
CRT’s Role and Responsibility
The University seeks to provide an educational environment that is free from acts of bias, discrimination and prejudicial incidents. The University’s Community Restoration Team (CRT) takes action to support affected individuals and/or group(s) while providing an educational response that communicates information to the campus community about detrimental damage caused by these incidents.
CRT’s primary goal is to prevent the occurrence of bias, discrimination and prejudicial incidents by providing outreach and educational programs, in hopes of creating a more welcoming and inclusive campus community.
Disciplinary actions or sanctions are not facilitated by CRT, and CRT collaborates with multiple departments to offer educational programs based on the community impact of the incident.
Reporting an Incident
- If you experience or witness a bias incident, you are encouraged to complete an incident report. Although we accept anonymous reports, it will limit our ability to fully assist
those affected by the incident. Once the form is submitted, the CRT Team will be notified.
- Call 911 if you or someone else is currently being harmed, has recently been harmed, or is in danger of being harmed.
- Note: If you do not wish to complete a form, you may contact the VP of Campus Life and Inclusive Excellence, Dr. Santiago Solis at (570) 422-3463.
- Once CRT receives the report, the person who submitted the report is contacted via email. The email will include all pertinent information regarding the incident and resources to support the potential victim(s). CRT’s primary concern is making sure the individual is safe and feels supported. The report is then forwarded to the appropriate campus department/office for review and next steps which can include an educational response to restore community values, additional support for the affected individual, or further investigation.
- After all measures have been implemented, the individual who submitted the report will be notified via email. The email will include information regarding action steps taken to mitigate the issue. There will be an invitation for the individual to ask questions about the process and outcomes. Once the email is sent and received, the incident will be considered closed. The case may be re-opened if additional information becomes available.
First Amendment Considerations
As a public university, ESU is committed to the ideals of free speech protected by the First Amendment. Freedom of speech is not only an important individual right, but also essential to a healthy democracy.
Although the First Amendment protects freedom of expression that can be offensive and hurtful, as a university, we are not completely powerless in our ability to take action against bias, hateful, or prejudicial acts. CRT does not censor or punish free speech, but rather use the information from reports to create a better campus environment by:
- Providing support for affected individuals and groups is the primary responsibility of CRT. Students may be referred to the CARE Team.
- Appropriately collaborating with campus community partners to directly educate the campus about the effects of bias incidents.
- Maintaining a log of all reported incidents. CRT will track and assess for patterns and use this information to recommend initiatives and or programs for the campus community.
- Recommending further interventions to the VP of Campus Life and Inclusive Excellence to assist in the prevention and reduction of acts of bias on campus.
Note: Acts such as threats of violence, vandalism, harassment, incitement, and/or physical assault are not protected under the First Amendment, therefore subject to disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct.
ESU’s Community Restoration Team
- Name
- Santiago Solis
- Title
- Vice President of Campus Life and Inclusive Excellence
- E:
- ssolis@esu.edu
- P:
- (570) 422-3463
- Campus Address
- Reibman Administration Building
- Name
- Lyesha Fleming
- Title
- Director, Center for Multicultural Affairs & Inclusive Education
- E:
- lfleming@esu.edu
- P:
- (570) 422-3896
- Campus Address
- 96 Normal Street
- Name
- Chin Hu
- Title
- Professor, Sociology, Social Work & Criminal Justice
- E:
- chu@esu.edu
- P:
- (570) 422-3369
- Campus Address
- Stroud Hall 101D
- Name
- David Campbell
- Title
- Associate Director, Residential & Dining Services
- E:
- dcampbell@esu.edu
- P:
- (570) 422-3867
- Campus Address
- Hemlock Suites
Contact Us
Contact Information
- Campus Address
- Reibman Administration Building
- Phone:
- (570) 422-3463
- Fax:
- (570) 422-3410 (Fax)
- Title of Department Leader
- Vice President, Campus Life & Inclusive Excellence
- Name
- Dr. Santiago Solis
- E:
- ssolis@esu.edu
