This policy is intended to address all members of the university community including students, faculty, librarians, professional staff, clerical staff, maintenance, campus police and security, managers, administrators, and the Board of Trustees as well as any vendors doing business with the University. Sexual harassment encompasses any sexual attention that is unwanted.
Sexual harassment can be verbal, visual, or physical.
Whether particular verbal, non-verbal, or physical conduct constitutes harassment in violation of this policy will depend upon all the circumstances, the context in which the conduct occurs, and the frequency, severity, and pattern of the conduct. The University recognizes that even the possibility of harassment is destructive to individuals, to groups and to the community. While sexual harassment most often takes place in situations where there is a power differential between the persons involved, the University recognizes that sexual harassment may occur between persons of the same status. Sexual harassment may also occur between persons of the same sex. When, through fear of reprisal, a student, staff member, or faculty member submits, or is pressured to submit, to unwanted sexual attention, the entire community is undermined.