WVU BOG Governance Rule 1.6: Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, Domestic Misconduct, Stalking, Retaliation, and Relationships
West Virginia University
Relevant Excerpt
3.3.1 “Harassment” is conduct that creates a Hostile Environment, as defined below, and is based upon an individual’s race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, marital or family status, pregnancy, veteran status, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or gender expression.
3.3.2 Harassment may take various forms, including, but not limited to, name-calling, graphic or written statements (including the use of social media, text messages, e-mail, or other similar forms), or other conduct that may be physically threatening, harmful, or humiliating.
...
3.4.2 “Sexual Harassment (Hostile Environment)” means Harassment that creates a Hostile Environment based on sex, which includes, but is not limited to unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
3.4.3 Sexual Harassment may occur between people of the same sex or people of different sexes. Examples of Sexual Harassment may include, but are not limited to, unsolicited, deliberate, or repeated touching, sexual flirtation, advances or propositions which are not welcomed and/or desired; unwelcome jokes, stories, comments, innuendos, or other sexually oriented statements which are specifically designed to embarrass or humiliate through their sexual subject matter content; unwelcome sexual communication such as graphic or degrading comments about one’s gender related to personal appearance; unwelcome display of sexually explicit materials, objects, or pictures in an individual’s place of work or study, such as viewing material on computers or other electronic devices where others can see. Importantly, these and any other examples in this Rule, are provided only for illustration purposes and all conduct must still meet the applicable definitions in the Rule before rising to the level of prohibited conduct.
...
3.5.1 “Hostile Environment” means a situation where an individual is subjected to any conduct based on the reasons set forth in Sections 3.3 or 3.4 and that conduct, determined by a reasonable person, is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the University's education program or activity.