Because most harassment victims are frightened they do not report harassment. Victims of harassment are afraid of the consequences of complaining. Generally, they quietly drop out of school or change jobs without ever telling anyone they have been harassed. The university will strive to protect the confidentiality of the accused. The university will not tolerate retaliations against persons who initiate complaints.
Harassment affects different people in different ways.
People who experience harassment may have feelings of anxiety, anger, low self esteem and a sense of having been violated and betrayed. These feelings may be experienced as physical symptoms such as headache and gastrointestinal disorders. Performance suffers, classes are dropped, jobs are quit, majors are changed and academic curiosity and careers are stifled. Because the victim's anger may not be easily expressed, the person often suffers alone, sometimes feeling hopeless and powerless which further increases isolation.