Newsgroups: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk
From: kadie@eff.org (Carl M. Kadie)
Subject:  [PSU] Harassment
Message-ID: <1993Mar22.190155.10714@eff.org>
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1993 19:01:55 GMT

[This is part of the Pennsylvania State University Code. It is from
the document '//psuinfo/Policies-Rules for Students/Policies and
Rules/Harassment'. It is available via gopher from info.psu.edu.

A point of interest:

Gives a definition of (not necessarily sexual) harassment.

- Carl]


TIP629: HARASSMENT
 
     This TIPS script will discuss several forms of what is commonly
     called harassment.  Harassment is very generally defined as
     persistent and unwelcome behaviors which pressure, alarm or
     threaten an individual.  Harassment can be a violation of
     criminal law, employment laws and University conduct standards.
 
     Criminal Harassment
 
     Harassment in Pennsylvania is a summary offense which means that
     an individual convicted of harassment can be fined and given a
     criminal record.  Two types of behaviors are defined as
     harassment in Pennsylvania.  The first type is called simply
     harassment and is defined as follows: "A person commits a
     harassment when, with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another
     person, that person either strikes, shoves, kicks or otherwise
     subjects the other person to physical contact, or attempts or
     threatens to do the same or if a person follows another in or
     about a public place or places; or if a person engages in a
     course of conduct or repeatedly commits acts which alarm or
     seriously annoy such other person and would serve no legitimate
     purpose."
 
     Pennsylvania also recognizes a crime that is designated
     harassment by communication.  A person commits this crime if,
     with intent to harass another, that person makes a telephone call
     without intent of legitimate communication or addresses to or
     about such other person any lewd, lascivious or indecent words or
     language or anonymously telephones another person repeatedly; or
     a person makes repeated communications anonymously or at
     extremely inconvenient hours or in unfashionably course language.
     Harassment by communication is a misdemeanor and again, an
     individual convicted of it can be fined, imprisoned and given a
     criminal record.  If you believe that you have been the victim of
     the crime of either harassment or harassment by communication,
     you should contact a police agency for assistance.
 
     Harassment as a Violation of the University Code of Conduct
 
     A student who engages in behavior that the University has
     designated as harassment can be subject to University sanctions
     through the Office of Conduct Standards.  The University defines
     harassment as a course of conduct which subjects a person or
     group of persons to unwanted physical contact or the threat of
     such conduct, or which seriously threatens or alarms a person or
     group.  A student who is found to have committed harassment can
     be given a sanction which may range from a disciplinary warning
     up to, in the most serious cases, separation from the University.
     Such a sanction will usually include a stipulation that the
     student who engaged in the harassment make no unsolicited contact
     with the victim.
 
     If you feel that you have been the victim of harassment by a
     university student, contact the Office of Conduct Standards,
     863-0342.
 
     Sexual Harassment
 
     Sexual harassment refers to the objectionable emphasis on the
     sexuality of one person by another.  Sexual harassment includes
     unwelcome requests for sexual intimacy, suggestive remarks,
     persistent staring at one's body, the asking of personal
     questions, objectionable touching or verbal comments which result
     in a hostile learning or working environment.  Listen to TIPS
     tape #421 for more information about sexual harassment or contact
     Dr. Betty Moore in the Campus Life Assistance Center, 135 Boucke,
     863-1809 for more information for educational materials or
     programs and for assistance with a personal problem.
 
     10/19/92