SEXUAL HARASSMENT DEFINED
SEXUAL HARASSMENT DEFINED
Sexual harassment, as prohibited under federal law, state law, and Langston University policy, is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, sexual assaults, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. This conduct constitutes sexual harassment when:
- Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or academic standing
- Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions or academic decisions affecting such individual
- Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational or work environment.
Sexual harassment can occur between any two individuals. Although sexual harassment typically occurs when one person is in a position of power over another, it can also occur among peers. Sexual harassment can also occur if a supervisor or faculty member grants special favors or opportunities to a person with whom he or she is having a sexual relationship, but does not grant equal opportunities or advantages to other persons.
The sexual harassment of University faculty, staff, and students on campus property by non-University employees and guests doing business or providing services (for example, contractors, vendors, delivery persons) is also prohibited by this policy.
EXAMPLES OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT
The following types of conduct may constitute sexual harassment:
- Unwelcomed sexual flirtation, advances or propositions of sexual activities.
- Asking about someone else’s personal, social or sexual life or about their sexual fantasies, preferences or history.
- Discussing your own personal sexual fantasies, preferences or history.
- Repeatedly asking for a date from a person who is not interested.
- Whistles, catcalls or insulting sounds.
- Sexually suggestive jokes, innuendoes or turning discussions into sexual topics.
- Sexually offensive or degrading language used to describe an individual or remarks of a sexual nature to describe a person’s body or clothing.
- Calling a person a “hunk,” “doll,” “babe,” “sugar,” “honey,” or similar descriptive terms.
- Displaying sexually demeaning or offensive objects and pictures.
- Making sexual gestures with hands or body movements.
- Rating a person’s sexuality.
- Unwelcomed touching of a person’s body including massaging a person.