About

#USvsHate (“us versus hate”) @ UC San Diego is the first higher education version of #USvsHate, a national anti-hate messaging project created by a team from UC San Diego’s Center for Research on Educational Equity, Assessment, and Teaching Excellence led by Prof. Mica Pollock. #USvsHate embraces inclusion and justice for all in our diverse schools and society. In #USvsHate, students are invited to create public anti-hate messages in any media for their school communities.

Originally piloted by K12 educators and students in San Diego and led by UC San Diego’s CREATE, #USvsHate K12 was scaled nationally in 2019-20 by Teaching Tolerance of the Southern Poverty Law Center. CREATE and Pollock’s national group #Schooltalking now continue to grow the K12 project nationally.

#USvsHate in HIGHER EDUCATION

Our #USvsHate @ UC San Diego challenge is the country’s first campus-wide higher education version. We amplify undergraduate and graduate student voices for our campus audience and beyond. 

In courses or on their own, students create public messages in any media for our campus community and the public. Instructors and students then submit their best to our campus challenge. UC San Diego will amplify top entries digitally and in print!

Anti-hate messages:

  • explicitly address, explore, and refuse racism, xenophobia, homophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, sexism, or other forms of hate, bias and injustice in schools and society;
  • communicate that people across lines of difference contribute to our communities, regions, and nation, are equally valuable, and deserve access to opportunity and well-being;
  • bust a myth (challenge a stereotype) about a “type of” student too often misrepresented;
  • ask people to treat each other kindly, fairly and respectfully, so schools stay safe for learning and society includes us all.

What do we mean by “hate”?

We define “hate” as any time people denigrate, disrespect or harm an individual or group as if their identity makes them an inferior or less valuable type of person. 

See Definitions and Concepts for more! 

We think “hate” includes:

  • Creating or spreading hateful speech or symbols that demean and hurt people.
  • Repeating false ideas that some “types of people” are inferior or superior.
  • Denying some groups opportunity or well-being as if they are less valuable.
  • Taking cruel actions that fuel more hate. (E.g., bullying, harassment)
  • Accepting or allowing such harm to others.

#USvsHate is about standing up when people get hurt, whether that hurt is subtle or not.

Check out our #USvsHate Anti-Hate Principles, aligned with Teaching Tolerance’s Social Justice Standards!

#USvsHate “Anti-Hate” Principles

  • We reject false ideas about “inferior” and “superior” people. Every person and each community is equally valuable and deserving of respect. We can be proud of whoever we are without putting anyone else down. (Identity)
  • We refuse misinformation about other people’s lives. Instead, we build relationships and aim to more accurately describe people’s life experiences as individuals and as members of communities. We value everyone’s contribution to our society. We clarify that diversity makes us strong. (Diversity)
  • We call for inclusion and opportunity for all “types of people” across our society. We reject any situation or action that treats some “types of people” as inherently more valuable than others. (Justice)
  • We stand up against harmful treatment or opportunity denial. Through our anti-hate messages, we insist that all people should be respected, fairly treated, and supported. We ask others to act, as one 3rd grader put it, like “everyone belongs.” (Action)

Goals of #USvsHate
@ UC San Diego

  • Involve entire campus community in dialogue, education, advocacy, and engagement to build a climate on campus that is free of bias and hate 
  • Amplify the Principles of Community and Strategic Plan for Inclusive Excellence
  • Build and amplify undergraduate and graduate student voices on justice and anti-hate messaging
  • Support faculty in the development and implementation of curriculum and activities in classrooms 
  • Shape school/classroom climate to emphasize safety and inclusion for all, countering incidents of explicit hate in schools and on campuses nationwide;
  • Help students more fully know, value, and respect themselves and the people they share their school, community, and nation with;
  • Encourage students to take action against hate, bias and injustice in society and schools;
  • Catalyze ongoing intergenerational learning in campus communities;
  • Facilitate networking between educators and students.