Student Handbook: Anti-Discrimination Policy

Relevant Excerpt

Harassment Harassment based on a person's protected class under TTU System Regulation 07.10 is a form of discrimination. Harassment is verbal or physical conduct that is directed toward an individual because of sex (including pregnancy), race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or other protected categories, classes, or characteristics, when such conduct is sufficiently severe orpervasive that it has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s academic or work performance or of creating a hostile academic or work environment. In the context of student-on-student conduct, “harassment” is verbal or physical conduct that is directed toward a student because of sex (including pregnancy), race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or other protected categories, classes, or characteristics, when such conduct subjects a student to sufficiently severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive treatment, effectively denying the student equal access to educational opportunities.

2. Please see TTU System Regulation 07.10 for examples of behavior that may constitute unlawful Harassment. Sexual Harassment a. Unwelcome sex-based verbal or physical conduct that: 1) In the employment context, unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment. To constitute an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment, the complained of conduct must be either severe, persistent,or pervasive; or 2) In the educational context, is sufficiently severe, persistent, and objectively offensive that the conduct unreasonably interferes with a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from educational programs or activities.

b. Examples of inappropriate behavior that may constitute Sexual Harassment include, but are not limited to: i. Sexual teasing, jokes, remarks, or questions; ii. Sexual looks and gestures; iii. Sexual innuendoes or stories; iv. Communicating in a manner with sexual overtones; v. Inappropriate comments about dress or physical appearance; vi. Gifts, letters, calls, e-mails, online posts, or materials of a sexual nature; vii. Sexually explicit visual material (calendars, posters, cards, software, internet, or other multimedia materials); viii. Sexual favoritism; ix. Pressure for dates or sexual favors; x. Inappropriate discussion of private sexual behavior; xi. Non-consensual video or audio-taping of sexual activity; xii. Exposing one’s genitals or inducing another to expose their genitals; xiii. Unwelcome physical contact (touching, patting, stroking, rubbing); xiv. Nonconsensual Sexual Intercourse, Sexual Assault, or rape; xv. Stalking; xvi. Domestic or Dating violence; xvii. Other gender-based threats, discrimination, intimidation, hazing, bullying, Stalking, or violence.