Policy Prohibiting Sexual Harassment

St. Olaf College

  • Speech Code Rating
    Yellow
  • Speech Code Category
    Harassment Policies
  • Last updated
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Relevant Excerpt

Sexual Harassment means conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following: ... 

Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the College’s education program or activity; ...

Actions that can constitute sexual harassment include:

  • Unwelcome sexual flirtations, advances, or propositions;
  • Requests for sexual favors;
  • Verbal abuse of a sexual nature, obscene language, off-color jokes, unwelcome verbal commentary about an individual’s body, sexual innuendo, and gossip about sexual relations;
  • The display of derogatory or sexually suggestive posters, cartoons, drawings, objects, notes, letters, emails, or text messages;
  • Visual conduct such as leering or making obscene gestures;
  • Recording video or photographs of a sexual nature without consent;
  • Cyber harassment, including but not limited to disseminating information, photos, or video of a sexual nature without consent;
  • Engaging in conduct of a sexual nature which creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive academic or work environment (e.g., sexual assault, sexual exploitation, offensive physical contact, obscene messages and gestures); and
  • Punishing or threatening to take adverse action against a subordinate or student for refusing to comply with sexual demands.
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