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dealing with sexual harassment

Remaining silent won't make it stop....Tell Someone!

WHAT IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT?

Sexual harassment is any unwelcome physical or verbal conduct of a sexual nature which interferes with another’s ability to receive an education or work. It may consist of physical and/or verbal behavior, or other actions that intimidate or offend an individual or group of persons.
Sexual harassment can involve relationships of unequal power. This type of harassment usually contains elements of coercion such as requests for sexual favors in exchange for granting benefits in work, and or study situations. Sexual harassment between equals can involve repeated sexual advances or demeaning verbal behavior.

People who are harassed may feel angry, hurt, depressed, trapped, and have lowered self-esteem; they may drop courses, change majors, drop out of school, change residence, quit jobs, neglect academic/work commitments or responsibilities to avoid offending the person.

The following actions may be considered sexually harassing behavior:

• Unwanted sexual advances, propositions, or questions
• Unwelcome touching of a person's body or clothing
• Public displays of sexually demeaning objects, photographs, posters, or cartoons in a manner that is intended to interfere with work or education.
• Implied or overt threats, or punitive action as the result of rejection of sexual advances or rejection of romantic involvement
• Sexual assault/rape

If you think you have been sexually assaulted/raped, contact Campus Police immediately.

Sexual harassment can be intentional or unintentional. While sexual comments or joking, personal advances, and other behaviors may occur in some cases with no harm intended, such actions can be unwanted, threatening, and perceived as harassment.

WHAT TO DO?

INDIVIDUAL ACTION

• Speak up immediately. Clearly state that you are offended by the behavior and want it to stop.
• Document all incidents. If the behavior does not stop, document, in writing, all incidents including dates, times, places, witnesses, and descriptions of events.
• Seek Support. Don’t try to handle the stress of harassment alone. Talk to a friend, a relative, a counselor or someone else that you can trust. Harassers tend to be repeat offenders; find out if others have been harassed.

FILING A FORMAL COMPLAINT

A formal complaint is a written statement which will be investigated.

Students should file a formal complaint with the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs unless that person is the offender. In that case, the complaint should be made to the Vice Chancellor’s supervisor.

Employees should file formal complaints with their supervisor, unless the supervisor is the offender. In that case, the complaint should be made to the supervisor’s supervisor. Employees may also file formal complaints in the Human Resources Office.

CAMPUS POLICY

Sexual harassment is any unwelcome physical or verbal conduct of a sexual nature which interferes with another’s ability to receive an education or work. Harassment on the basis of sex is a violation of Section 703 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (amended in 1972). It is further interpreted to be a form of sex discrimination prohibited by North Carolina General Statute 126-16 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title VII is enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Commission, and Title IX is enforced by the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education. Consequently, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke will not tolerate sexual harassment of its students, faculty, or employees. Sexual harassment at UNCP will be grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment or student status.

The following actions may be considered sexually harassing behavior: 1) unwanted sexual advances, propositions, or questions; 2) unwelcome touching of a person’s body or clothing; 3) public displays of sexually demeaning objects, photographs, posters, or cartoons in a mannerthat is intended to interfere with work or education; 4) implied or overt threats, or punitive actionas the result of rejection of sexual advances or rejection of romantic involvement; and 5) sexual assault.

Victims of sexual harassment should either contact Campus Police or present the information in writing to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. Complaints against UNCP students will be governed by the procedures stated in the Student Judicial Process, STUDENT HANDBOOK, Article IV, Section C. Student Complaints against UNCP faculty or staff will be governed by the procedures stated in the Student Grievance Policy. Members of the University community are prohibited from acts of reprisal against individuals who bring complaints or are involved as witnesses in any action connected with this policy.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Office of Student Affairs
Second Floor, Lumbee Hall
910.521.6226

Police and Public Safety
Auxiliary Services Building
910.521.6235

Counseling and Testing Center
Room 243 Chavis University Center
910.521.6202

Office of Human Resources
Room 347 Lumbee Hall
910.521.6279

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke does not condone discrimination, in any form, against students, employees, faculty, or anyone else on the grounds of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.

In the event of conflict between this web page and any University policy dealing with discrimination, the policy takes precedence.

Updated: Wednesday, February 11, 2009

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