All effects are harmful. People who feel harassed have dropped courses, changed majors, avoided advisors, even quit jobs or school. Sexual harassment includes verbal conduct which has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or educational environment. Verbal expression which is relevant to course subject matter is not regarded as sexual harassment. However, classroom language which is hostile and derogatory and which is directed at an individual or group because of their sex may constitute sexual harassment and is a violation of University policy.
Academic freedom requires an environment in which no person is exploited or coerced.
Sexual harassment hampers academic freedom. The University's policies and procedures for dealing with sexual harassment ensure academic freedom while protecting the rights of the entire University campus. University policy strongly discourages consenting romantic or sexual relationships between members of the University community when one person has power or authority over the other. The trust and respect that students have for faculty and other staff can make it difficult for them to freely reject sexual advances. Because faculty and other staff have the power to give or withhold rewards such as praise, grades, and recommendations, this further limits the extent to which a sexual relationship between faculty or staff and students can be considered truly consensual.