Computer-based Sexual Computer-based Sexual HarassmentHarassment

Its Prevalence and Impact on Students

Sarah Rogerson & Sejal MehtaThe Pennsylvania State

University

Program OverviewProgram Overview

• Definitions of sexual harassment and hostile Definitions of sexual harassment and hostile environmentenvironment

• Prevalence, characteristics and impact of Prevalence, characteristics and impact of computer-based sexual harassmentcomputer-based sexual harassment

• Case examples Case examples

• Addressing and preventing computer-based Addressing and preventing computer-based harassmentharassment

• Case study discussionCase study discussion

Characteristics of Sexual Characteristics of Sexual HarassmentHarassment

• The behavior is sexual or related to the sex The behavior is sexual or related to the sex or gender of the personor gender of the person

• The behavior is unwanted or unwelcome The behavior is unwanted or unwelcome

• The behavior occurs in context of a The behavior occurs in context of a relationship where one person has more relationship where one person has more formal power than the other or more formal power than the other or more informal powerinformal power

Hostile Education Hostile Education EnvironmentEnvironment

• Any sexually oriented conduct, or any sexually Any sexually oriented conduct, or any sexually oriented atmosphere that is intimidating or oriented atmosphere that is intimidating or offensive to a reasonable person, can be construed offensive to a reasonable person, can be construed as creating a hostile educational environmentas creating a hostile educational environment

• Generally requires a consistent pattern of behaviorGenerally requires a consistent pattern of behavior

• This form of harassment often occurs over a period This form of harassment often occurs over a period of time and is typically characterized by multiple, of time and is typically characterized by multiple, varied, and frequent occurrencesvaried, and frequent occurrences

Peer HarassmentPeer Harassment

• Is generally a form of hostile Is generally a form of hostile environment harassment, where the environment harassment, where the relationship between the perpetrator relationship between the perpetrator and the victim is in most cases informal. and the victim is in most cases informal.

• Peer harassment may interfere with a Peer harassment may interfere with a student’s ability to learn, his or her student’s ability to learn, his or her living conditions, and the ability to living conditions, and the ability to partake in any and all of the partake in any and all of the opportunities offered by the institution.opportunities offered by the institution.

Computer-based Sexual Computer-based Sexual HarassmentHarassment

Prevalence of Computer-based Prevalence of Computer-based Harassment and MisconductHarassment and Misconduct

• In a recent survey of 200 colleges, two In a recent survey of 200 colleges, two thirds reported that at least one complaint thirds reported that at least one complaint about computer harassment had been filed. about computer harassment had been filed.

• In 1995 MIT reported 50 cases of computer-In 1995 MIT reported 50 cases of computer-based harassment.based harassment.

• In 1998 Penn State, University Park In 1998 Penn State, University Park reported 2300 incidents of computer reported 2300 incidents of computer misconduct to computer security officers.misconduct to computer security officers.

Characteristics of Characteristics of Computer-based Computer-based CommunicationCommunication

• Communication can reach a wide Communication can reach a wide audience audience

• Anonymity unique to computer-Anonymity unique to computer-mediated communicationmediated communication– Difficulty in tracing email Difficulty in tracing email – Using others accountsUsing others accounts– Using web-based accounts under fictitious Using web-based accounts under fictitious

namename

Characteristics of Characteristics of Computer-based Computer-based CommunicationCommunication

• Absence of visual and contextual Absence of visual and contextual cuescues

• Subculture of cyberspaceSubculture of cyberspace

• Gender differences in Gender differences in communication stylescommunication styles

Impact of Computer-based Impact of Computer-based HarassmentHarassment

• Mild annoyance to genuine fearMild annoyance to genuine fear

• Vulnerability of victimVulnerability of victim

• Creates hostile environmentCreates hostile environment

• Uncertainty of how to react to Uncertainty of how to react to harassmentharassment

Case ExamplesCase Examples

• Harassment via Harassment via emailemail– Caltech University, Caltech University,

19951995

• Harassment via Harassment via posting on the posting on the InternetInternet– University of University of

Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Ann Arbor, 19951995

Caltech Harassment CaseCaltech Harassment Case

• Doctoral candidate was expelled for Doctoral candidate was expelled for allegedly sexually harassing another allegedly sexually harassing another student, largely via electronic mailstudent, largely via electronic mail

• Email anonymityEmail anonymity

• Email as evidence of harassmentEmail as evidence of harassment

• Communication in cyber-spaceCommunication in cyber-space

Jake Baker’s CaseJake Baker’s Case• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,

October 1994 – January 1995October 1994 – January 1995

• Posted sexually violent stories to a news groupPosted sexually violent stories to a news group– Used his school email accountUsed his school email account– Used the name of a student from his class in Used the name of a student from his class in

one storyone story– Used humiliating verbal and graphic Used humiliating verbal and graphic

descriptions in his storiesdescriptions in his stories

• The case has been dismissed because of lack of The case has been dismissed because of lack of evidence that Baker planned to act on his writings.evidence that Baker planned to act on his writings.

Addressing and Preventing Addressing and Preventing Computer-Based Sexual Computer-Based Sexual HarassmentHarassment

Addressing and Preventing Addressing and Preventing Computer-Based Sexual HarassmentComputer-Based Sexual Harassment

• Educate students, faculty, and staff about computer Educate students, faculty, and staff about computer conduct and how to recognize when harassment conduct and how to recognize when harassment occursoccurs

• Print and make accessible university policies and Print and make accessible university policies and guidelines dealing with harassment issuesguidelines dealing with harassment issues

• Make available contact information of computer Make available contact information of computer security staffsecurity staff

• Computer security staff should act on complaints Computer security staff should act on complaints immediatelyimmediately

The Stopit MechanismsThe Stopit Mechanisms

• Basic proposition: Basic proposition: most offenders, given most offenders, given the opportunity to stop uncivil behavior the opportunity to stop uncivil behavior without having to admit guilt, will do so.without having to admit guilt, will do so.

• Goals:Goals:– To discover harassment, improper use, To discover harassment, improper use,

and other uncivil behavior rapidlyand other uncivil behavior rapidly– To communicate effectively with its To communicate effectively with its

perpetratorsperpetrators

The Stopit PosterThe Stopit Poster

Goals of the posterGoals of the poster

• To encourage victims who feel they To encourage victims who feel they are in danger to call campus police are in danger to call campus police immediatelyimmediately

• To provide a clear “if you can’t To provide a clear “if you can’t figure out what to do” path to usfigure out what to do” path to us

The Stopit PosterThe Stopit Poster

• STOP IT!STOP IT!• Is it harassment? Ask yourself these three Is it harassment? Ask yourself these three

questions:questions:– Did the incident cause stress that affected your Did the incident cause stress that affected your

ability or the ability of others, to work or study?ability or the ability of others, to work or study?– Was it unwelcome behavior?Was it unwelcome behavior?– Would a reasonable person of your Would a reasonable person of your

gender/race/religion subjected to this behavior find gender/race/religion subjected to this behavior find it unacceptable?it unacceptable?

• If you answer yes to these questions, please If you answer yes to these questions, please don’t ignore the situation.don’t ignore the situation.

The Stopit PosterThe Stopit Poster

• Here’s What To DoHere’s What To Do

– If you are in danger or want to register a complaint, If you are in danger or want to register a complaint, call campus police at_____call campus police at_____

– To talk to someone off the record during the To talk to someone off the record during the academic year (for students only), call Nightline at__academic year (for students only), call Nightline at__

– To talk the someone off the record Mon.-Fri., call a To talk the someone off the record Mon.-Fri., call a Counseling Dean or an Ombuds at ____Counseling Dean or an Ombuds at ____

– To file a complaint with Office of the Dean for Student To file a complaint with Office of the Dean for Student Affairs, call_____Affairs, call_____

– If you want help from IS/Athena, send an email to If you want help from IS/Athena, send an email to stopit@mit.edustopit@mit.edu

What is happening on What is happening on your campus?your campus?

Case Study DiscussionCase Study Discussion

Thank you for coming!Thank you for coming!

• Sarah Rogerson, M.Ed. Candidate, Sarah Rogerson, M.Ed. Candidate, College Student Personnel, Penn StateCollege Student Personnel, Penn State– ser10@psu.eduser10@psu.edu

• Sejal Mehta, M.Ed. Candidate, Sejal Mehta, M.Ed. Candidate, College Student Personnel, Penn StateCollege Student Personnel, Penn State– ssm134@psu.edussm134@psu.edu