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Harassment
What is harassment based
upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion,
sexual orientation, or veteran status?
Harassment based upon race, color, national
origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual
orientation, or veteran status(fn) is conduct
that interferes with an individual's work
or academic performance or participation
in University programs or activities, and
creates a working or learning environment that
a reasonable person would find threatening,
intimidating, or hostile.
Sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual attention that unreasonably interferes
with an individual's working or learning environment. It may
involve intimidation, threats, coercion, sexual advances, request for sexual
favors or other verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
Harassment may occur between individuals of the same or opposite gender
and between students, faculty, staff, and administrators. It may occur
when one individual holds a position of real or perceived authority over
the other or between individuals of equal status. Harassment can occur
anywhere on campus, including the classroom, workplace, residence hall or
within any University sponsored program or activity.
To constitute harassment, the behavior must be severe or pervasive. Harassment
can take many forms, and deciding whether harassment has occurred means
examining each situation and all of the circumstances.
Harassment based upon protected classes may involve:
- physically assaulting or repeatedly intimidating, teasing, mocking
or joking based on an individual's race, color, national origin,
sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation,
or veteran status
- repeatedly directing racial or ethnic slurs at an individual
- repeatedly telling an individual that he/she is too old to understand
new technology
- repeatedly pressuring an individual for dates or sexual favors
- repeatedly displaying sexually explicit visual material (calendars,
posters, cards, software, and web sites)
- repeatedly giving or sending inappropriate gifts, calls, letters
or e-mails
- promises or rewards (a better grade, or
a promotion) in return for sexual favors
- unwelcome physical contact
- sexual assault*
* While all sexual harassment is against the law, sexual assault
is a criminal act and should be reported to the campus or city police.
Examples of protected-class harassment:
- Julie, a supervisor, repeatedly makes ethnically disparaging comments
to Juan, such as, "If you don't do your job correctly,
I'm going to send you back south of the border."
- Thomas acts and behaves in a more feminine manner and as a result,
his classmates frequently tease him and call him a "queer" and
a "girlie man."
- Professor Jones is in her office when her student Steve comes in,
closes the door and suggestively says, "I'd do anything for an A in your class."
If you are experiencing discrimination and/or harassment, you may:
- have feelings of confusion, fearfulness, powerlessness, guilt, or
shame
- lose motivation
- experience a loss of self-esteem
- drop a class or quit your job
- change majors, change careers or even leave the University
What should I do if I think I have experienced
or witnessed harassment?
1. Tell the harasser to stop
If you feel comfortable doing so, directly and succinctly tell the individual
to stop the offensive behavior. The individual may be unaware
that you find the behavior to be offensive or unwelcome.
2. Write a letter
In many cases, a letter to the individual may clear up any misunderstandings
and cause the behavior to stop. The letter should include a statement
such as: "When you (stare at me, put your hand on my shoulder, make
sexual, racial or religious comments/jokes), I feel uncomfortable. I
want you to stop that behavior immediately."
3. Tell someone
Discussing the situation with someone will help you sort out your feelings
and decide what to do. You may want to talk to someone you trust,
such as a friend, or a confidential resource on campus. (See the
resources listed in this brochure).
4. Keep a record
What happened? When? Where? Who were the other people present? How did
you feel? Save written notes/correspondence, voice mail and e-mail messages.
5. Report the incident promptly
Incidents of discrimination and harassment should be reported to the
Office of Discrimination and Harassment or, if the alleged harasser
is a student, to the Office of Judicial Affairs as soon as possible.
Professional staff will
work with you to determine the most appropriate means of addressing
your concerns.
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