Guide to Residence Hall Living: Harassment

Relevant Excerpt

Bigotry has no place within our community, nor does the right to minimize another human being on the basis of age, disability, identity as a veteran with a disability, or other protected veteran, national origin, sexual orientation, race, color, gender, or religious affiliation. We will not tolerate verbal or written threats, intimidation, violence, or other forms of harassment against any member of our community.

...

Harassment on Basis of Personal Attributes: Members of the University community and visitors, under the First Amendment, have a right to hold, vigorously defend, and promote their opinions. We maintain that while the freedom of thought and expression is the lifeblood of our learning community, the maintenance of civility is important to a meaningful exchange of ideas. Therefore, the Department of Residential Life is committed to maintaining an educational, residential, and employment environment free from hostility, intimidation, or harassment based on, but not limited to such personal attributes as race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, and/or sexual orientation.

Sexual Harassment: Sexual Harassment is defined as unfavorable or unwelcome treatment, made without consent, and based on a person’s gender or sex that is is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive and that so undermines and detracts from the victims’ educational experience, that the victim-students are effectively denied equal access to an institution’s resources and opportunities. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to the following, when they are part of a pattern of conduct that meets the standard for harassment set forth above:

• Verbal and/or physical behavior including, but not limited to: sexually explicit jokes, insults, and taunts; obscene gestures, pictorial, written, and electronic communications; and unwelcome touching.