College says displaying a sign 'color-coded pink for girls and blue for boys' is a 'bias incident

A Massachusetts college has created a list of bias-incident examples — and one infraction just might get your rethinking your magic marker choices.

Williams College declares that "displaying a sign that is color-­coded pink for girls and blue for boys" is among 21 bias-incident scenarios folks can report to school authorities.

How does the school define a bias incident?

The college defines bias incidents as "acts of conduct, speech, or expression that target individuals and groups based on race, religion, ethnic/national origin, gender, gender identity/expression, age, ability, or sexual orientation."

But the Speak Up website — managed by the offices of the Dean of the College and the Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Equity — notes that bias incidents "do not meet the necessary elements required to prove a crime."

However, the site indicates the incidents can be reported to school authorities — even Campus Safety and Security.

What are other examples of bias, according to the college?

• Name­-calling
• Avoiding or excluding others
• Making jokes or using stereotypes when talking about someone
• Telling someone that they have to wear pants because they are male and a skirt because they are female [or other specific limitations and expectations]

The College Fix said neither Stephen Klass, vice president for campus life, nor Leticia Haynes, vice president for institutional diversity and equity, responded to repeated requests asking if the listed bias-incident examples had ever taken place on campus.

It also isn't clear how students who commit acts of bias are disciplined, the College Fix added.