Faculty, staff and TA's should encourage people to take these issues seriously, and refrain from minimizing or making light of concerns brought to their attention. Most of us would probably agree that in the ideal world, we would all resolve conflicts directly. Informing someone that their words or actions are offensive or intimidating is sometimes all that's needed for the behavior to stop. We all need to do what we can to help create an environment at UCSB for people to feel comfortable talking openly and directly. Often, the power difference between them is too intimidating.
Some people are simply less assertive than others.
Some of us were brought up with cultural norms that discourage direct confrontation. Supervisors should discuss all possible options for resolving a conflict which is brought to their attention. They should also consider referring employees to a Sexual Harassment Contact Person on campus. This includes The Women's Center, Bldg. Faculty and TA's should also discuss with students options for resolving conflicts and refer them to a Sexual Harassment Contact Person on campus to discuss their rights and options.