USD

Sexual Harassment

You may not know what it is……….You may not know what it is……….

But you know how it makes you feel!!!But you know how it makes you feel!!!

What is sexual harassment?

Unwanted, unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature that Unwanted, unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature that usually involves repeated behavior, but could be usually involves repeated behavior, but could be constituted by just one serious incident;constituted by just one serious incident;

Unwelcome advances and requests for sexual favors that Unwelcome advances and requests for sexual favors that affect or could affect decisions about grades, promotions affect or could affect decisions about grades, promotions or raises (otherwise known as “quid pro quo”); andor raises (otherwise known as “quid pro quo”); and

A “hostile” environment created by behavior such as A “hostile” environment created by behavior such as sexual jokes or remarks, unwelcome physical pictures.sexual jokes or remarks, unwelcome physical pictures.

Sexual harassment usually occurs in situations Sexual harassment usually occurs in situations where one person has power over another but it where one person has power over another but it can also occur between equals. In particular, a can also occur between equals. In particular, a “hostile” environment may be created for an “hostile” environment may be created for an individual or group by any other person(s) if the individual or group by any other person(s) if the behavior(s) meet three criteria:behavior(s) meet three criteria:

Sexual in nature;Sexual in nature; Severe and/or pervasive; andSevere and/or pervasive; and Unwelcome.Unwelcome.

Sexual Harassment Is Illegal

Sexual harassment violates Federal Sexual harassment violates Federal and State law and District Policies and State law and District Policies 005.0330 and 007.0235.005.0330 and 007.0235.

Facts to Remember: Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination. It Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination. It

can occur between men and women, men and other can occur between men and women, men and other men or women and other women.men or women and other women.

The largest percentage of sexual harassment cases The largest percentage of sexual harassment cases involve verbal rather than physical behavior.involve verbal rather than physical behavior.

The problem of sexual harassment does not go The problem of sexual harassment does not go away by avoiding the harasser or ignoring the away by avoiding the harasser or ignoring the behavior.behavior.

Examples of Behaviors That May Lead to Sexual Harassment

Complaints Carl, an instructor for a large introductory Carl, an instructor for a large introductory

course, uses sex-stereotyped references and course, uses sex-stereotyped references and depictions and often makes jokes about sex. He depictions and often makes jokes about sex. He has suggested that the better looking a woman is, has suggested that the better looking a woman is, the more help she will get. Sandra is a student in the more help she will get. Sandra is a student in Carl’s class who needs extra help. She is deeply Carl’s class who needs extra help. She is deeply offended by the instructor’s attitude and refuses offended by the instructor’s attitude and refuses to see him outside of class.to see him outside of class.

Robert is a senior with a 3.9 GPA whose Robert is a senior with a 3.9 GPA whose professor has repeatedly asked him to go out with professor has repeatedly asked him to go out with her. He declined. Now he finds that his papers I her. He declined. Now he finds that his papers I her class are getting low grades and he may get a her class are getting low grades and he may get a C- for the course. He is sure that this is in C- for the course. He is sure that this is in retaliation for his refusals.retaliation for his refusals.

Annette’s coworker repeatedly makes sexual Annette’s coworker repeatedly makes sexual comments and jokes about women during staff comments and jokes about women during staff meetings and around the office. Annette finds meetings and around the office. Annette finds these remarks insulting and has talked to her these remarks insulting and has talked to her supervisor about the problem. Her supervisor tells supervisor about the problem. Her supervisor tells her she is too sensitive and should ignore the her she is too sensitive and should ignore the remarks.remarks.

RETALIATION PROHIBITED

If the person harassing you has power over your If the person harassing you has power over your education or employment, it is understandable education or employment, it is understandable that you might fear reprisal if you take steps to that you might fear reprisal if you take steps to end the harassment. You have a right to pursue end the harassment. You have a right to pursue your education and conduct your job in an your education and conduct your job in an environment free of this type of interference.environment free of this type of interference.

What Can You Do What Can You Do About Sexual About Sexual Harassment?Harassment?

As a faculty member

Make sure you are aware of how classroom Make sure you are aware of how classroom behavior and interaction with students may behavior and interaction with students may constitute, or be construed, as sexual constitute, or be construed, as sexual harassment. Discuss the issue with your harassment. Discuss the issue with your students. You have a legal responsibility to students. You have a legal responsibility to provide an environment free of sexual provide an environment free of sexual harassment. Watch for signs of sexual harassment. Watch for signs of sexual harassment in your school.harassment in your school.

As a supervisor

You have a special legal responsibility to stop You have a special legal responsibility to stop sexual harassment. In Uintah School District, sexual harassment. In Uintah School District, supervisors may include department chairs, supervisors may include department chairs, directors, administrators and any other person directors, administrators and any other person who is responsible for the work of another who is responsible for the work of another employee. Supervisors must promptly address employee. Supervisors must promptly address and resolve any harassing behaviors.and resolve any harassing behaviors.

As a student

You should be aware that your behavior is You should be aware that your behavior is governed by the District’s sexual harassment governed by the District’s sexual harassment policy.policy.

As a member of the District Community

You should promptly report any harassment, You should promptly report any harassment, which you become aware of and you should be which you become aware of and you should be sensitive to how others view what you say and sensitive to how others view what you say and do.do.

Responding to Reports

If a student or employee reports harassment to If a student or employee reports harassment to you, listen carefully, provide a copy of the you, listen carefully, provide a copy of the district’s sexual harassment policy, and follow district’s sexual harassment policy, and follow the district policy concerning the investigation the district policy concerning the investigation and processing of reports. In general, sexual and processing of reports. In general, sexual harassment of a student must be reported to the harassment of a student must be reported to the building principal within 24 hours.building principal within 24 hours.

Reports of sexual harassment of a student must Reports of sexual harassment of a student must be forwarded immediately to the Superintendent be forwarded immediately to the Superintendent who will conduct an investigation or appoint an who will conduct an investigation or appoint an impartial person to conduct an investigation.impartial person to conduct an investigation.

An employee may pursue a sexual harassment An employee may pursue a sexual harassment complaint formally or informally. The complaint formally or informally. The immediate supervisor of the alleged perpetrator immediate supervisor of the alleged perpetrator of sexual harassment or an alternate official of sexual harassment or an alternate official requested by the complainant, may address a requested by the complainant, may address a sexual harassment complaint informally, if sexual harassment complaint informally, if desired by the complainant, by strictly following desired by the complainant, by strictly following the procedures outline in Policy #005.0330. the procedures outline in Policy #005.0330.

A formal written complaint of sexual harassment A formal written complaint of sexual harassment must be forwarded immediately to the must be forwarded immediately to the Superintendent. The Superintendent may act as Superintendent. The Superintendent may act as the investigating officer or refer the complaint to a the investigating officer or refer the complaint to a designated agent or committee.designated agent or committee.

At each level, school district personnel must take At each level, school district personnel must take steps to prevent any retribution or retaliation and steps to prevent any retribution or retaliation and must conduct investigations and resolve must conduct investigations and resolve complaints of sexual harassment in a way that complaints of sexual harassment in a way that respects the rights of the complainant and the respects the rights of the complainant and the alleged perpetrator.alleged perpetrator.

As a general rule, any time you are in a position As a general rule, any time you are in a position of authority, dating an employee or student, even of authority, dating an employee or student, even physical contact beyond a professional physical contact beyond a professional handshake, leaves you vulnerable to charges of handshake, leaves you vulnerable to charges of sexual harassment. Such charges can lead to civil sexual harassment. Such charges can lead to civil lawsuits and discipline for you, not to mention lawsuits and discipline for you, not to mention public embarrassment and damage to your public embarrassment and damage to your professional reputation. If you have doubts, professional reputation. If you have doubts, avoid any questionable behavior---it is not worth avoid any questionable behavior---it is not worth the risk!!!!!the risk!!!!!