Sexual Misconduct

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits sex/gender discrimination, which includes sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted, unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment is one-sided, undeterred, and usually involves power and/or intimidation. It is unlawful to harass a person (an applicant or employee or student) because of that person's sex. Harassment can include "sexual harassment" or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.

There are two types of sexual harassment:

1. Quid pro quo, meaning "this for that"
2. Hostile, intimidating work environment, i.e., inappropriate touching, inappropriate jokes, threats

Harassment does not have to be of a sexual nature, however, and can include offensive remarks about a person's sex. For example, it is illegal to harass a woman by making offensive comments about women in general.

Both victim and the harasser can be either a woman or a man, and the victim and harasser can be the same sex.

Although the law doesn't prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that are not very serious, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired or demoted).

The harasser can be the victim's supervisor, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or someone who is not an employee of the employer, such as a client or customer. (http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/sexual_harassment.cfm)

If you would like to file a complaint of gender/sex discrimination, with the BSU Equity Compliance Office, please fill out the online Sexual Misconduct Complaint form.