Harassment

What is harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or veteran status?

Harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression 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, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression 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 or discriminator 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 the Appendix.)

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 Student Conduct, as soon as possible.

   Professional staff will work with you to determine the most appropriate means of addressing your concerns.  Additionally, all supervisors are required to report possible discrimination or harassment to the ODH whenever they experience, witness or are told about it.