Hostile environment is unwelcome harassing behavior toward another
employee or student that is sufficiently severe or pervasive as to alter the
conditions of the victim’s employment or academic pursuits and to create
a work or educational environment that a reasonable person would find
abusive. Isolated instances, such as a sexual overture, comment or joke,
ordinarily will not constitute illegal harassment and/or a violation of the
University’s standards of conduct. In determining whether an action
constitutes illegal harassment, the totality of circumstances will be
carefully reviewed and due consideration will be given to the protection of
individual rights.

Harassment based upon race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin,
age, disability or veteran status is a form of discrimination in violation of
federal and state law and Drexel University policy, and will not be
tolerated.

Hostile Environment Harassment consists of unwelcome conduct when: 1. such conduct has the effect of unreasonably interfering with an
individual’s work or academic performance, or
2. such conduct has the effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or
offensive working or learning environment.

Harassment is defined as verbal or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual on the basis of race, color, sex (except where sex is a bona fide occupational qualification), sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, or veteran status and that has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive employment or educational environment; or has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's employment or academic performance.

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature constitutes harassment when: [...] Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or study environment.

Examples of verbal behavior that might constitute sexual harassment are:
• Continuous idle chatter of a sexual nature and graphic sexual descriptions;
• Sexual slurs, sexual innuendoes, and other comments about a person’s clothing and the way it fits, the person’s body and/or about sexual activities;
• Offensive and persistent risqué jokes or jesting and kidding about sex or gender-specific traits;
• Suggestive or insulting sounds such as whistling, wolf calls, or kissing sounds;
• Comments of a sexual nature about weight, body shape, size or figure;
• Comments about the sensuality of a person, or his/her spouse or significant other;
• Distribution of written or graphic materials that are derogatory and are of a sexual nature;
• Repeated unsolicited propositions for dates and/or sexual relations; or
• Asking about sexual fantasies, preferences or history.
Examples of gestures or non-verbal behaviors that might be considered sexual harassment are:
• Sexual looks such as leering and ogling with suggestive overtones;
• Licking lips or teeth, winking, or throwing kisses;
• Holding or eating food provocatively;
• Lewd gestures, such as hand or sign language to denote sexual activity;
• Persistent and unwelcome flirting;
• Staring at an individual or looking a person up and down (elevator eyes);
• Giving personal gifts; or
• Displaying sexually suggestive pictures, calendars, posters, statues, etc.

It is also important to note that while some behaviors may be offensive, unprofessional, against Drexel University policy or inappropriate in the workplace, they may not necessarily be considered sexual harassment. For example, general use of profanity and vulgar language may not be sexual harassment unless it is sexually oriented or overused to the point that a hostile work environment is created.

Advertising, both inside/outside of buildings, electronic/print, and on/off campus, for parties or events may not refer to or promote alcoholic beverages, drugs, or tobacco products. Any materials of an explicit sexual nature are prohibited as well as materials that may be viewed as demeaning or degrading to a person or group of persons.