Student Handbook - Sweet Briar College

Definition of Harassment
For purposes of this agreement, harassment is behavior, directed at another
person, that is abusive or demeaning and includes or implies a reference to the
individual’s race, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual
orientation, gender identity or its expression, socio-economic circumstances,
political convictions, creed, color, physical or mental disability, medical
conditions, marital status, age, or other personal circumstances or
characteristics, and that has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating or
hostile environment, or interfering with the individual’s work or academic
performance.
Illegal and improper harassment may include, for example:
Making unwelcome comments about a person's clothing, body, skin color,
religious beliefs or personal life;
Offensive or abusive physical contact:
Use of offensive nicknames or terms of endearment;
Offensive jokes or unwelcome innuendos;
Any suggestion that sexual activities, race, gender, religion, national origin, age,
disability, or any other protected classification would affect one's job,
promotion, performance evaluation, working conditions, learning environment
or academic performance;
Other conduct that, even if not objectionable to some employees or students,
creates a working or learning environment that may be considered by others to
be offensive or hostile
Sexual harassment, in particular, may consist of unwelcome sexual advances,
requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature
when one or more of the following occur:
Submission or rejection of such conduct is made a term or condition of an
individual's employment or a student’s academic performance;
Submission or rejection of such conduct is used for the basis of an employment
decision, such as promotion, demotion, termination, or pay, or for an academic
decision, such as a passing or improved grade, failure in a course, or assignment
relief; or
Such condition interferes with an employee's work performance, a student’s
academic performance or creates a hostile, intimidating or offensive work or
learning environment.
The College recognizes that tension may exist between academic freedom and
the legal limits of expression. The College also recognizes that in an academic
community, the legitimate study of any discipline may raise issues related to
race, sex, religion, etc. that cause some individuals to be uncomfortable.
However, such study is not considered harassment. Individuals who feel that the
content of a course or discussion is inappropriate are encouraged to bring the
matter to the attention of the Dean of the Faculty.
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