It may involve harassment of women by men, harassment of men by women, and harassment between persons of the same sex. Sexual harassment is made unlawful by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, and Michigan s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. The University and the law also prohibit retaliation against persons who complain about alleged sexual harassment or who cooperate in an investigation of reported sexual harassment. This Policy applies to all members of the University community faculty, staff, and students. Persons who do so are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge for employees and suspension for students.
Sexual harassment involves unwanted sexual attention.
However, a person s subjective belief that behavior is offensive does not make that behavior sexual harassment. The behavior must also be objectively unreasonable. The determination as to whether behavior is sexual harassment must take account of the totality of the circumstances, including the nature of the behavior and the context in which it occurred. Sexually harassing conduct often involves a pattern of offensive behavior. However, a single instance of assaultive, physically threatening, or other especially abusive behavior may constitute sexual harassment.