Both formal and informal procedures for resolving sexual harassment complaints are available, and members of the Southern Polytechnic State University community are encouraged to resolve sexual harassment situations by either of these two procedures. The university s Affirmative Action Officer is the principal resource person for handling most sexual harassment complaints and can assist with both formal and informal complaints. As defined above, sexual harassment is a specific form of discrimination in which power inherent in a faculty member s or supervisor s relationship to his or her students or subordinates is unfairly exploited. Sexual harassment can occur in situations where one person has power over another, but it can occur between equals. Both men and women can be sexually harassed.
Sexual harassment can be as blatant as rape or as subtle as a look.
Harassment under the third part of the definition often consists of callous insensitivity of the experience of women. The examples below illustrate the range of behavior that may be considered sexual harassment. Tony, an instructor for a large introductory course, uses sex-stereotyped references and depictions and often makes jokes about sex. He has suggested that the better looking a woman is, the more help she will get. Sandra is a student in Tony's class who needs extra help.