Q1.) If
I ignore the harassment, will it stop?
Q2.) What protection
does the University offer against retaliation if I file or
make a complaint of sexual harassment?
Q3.) What are some
examples of retaliations?
Q4.) Is teasing sexual
harassment?
Q5.) If I witness what
I believe to be sexual harassment, do I report it?
Q6.) Does
the University’s
Sexual Harassment Policy cover contractual employees?
Q7.) People in my residence
hall are always telling dirty jokes. I am the only one in
my residence hall who is offended. Am I just too sensitive?
Q8.) What
can I do to protect myself from being accused of sexual harassment?
Q9.) When does sexual
harassment become a crime?
Q10.) If
I am accused of sexual harassment, what rights do I have?
Q11.) My
friend informed me that she is being sexually harassed
on campus. What will
happen if I report the behavior?
Q12.) What
if I want to file an anonymous complaint?
Q13.) What
about confidentiality?
Q1.) If I ignore the harassment, will it stop?
No. The lack of response will only increase the behavior.
Ignoring the harassing behavior sends a message that there
is no problem.
Q2.) What protection does the University offer against retaliation
if I file or make a complaint of sexual harassment?
Retaliation
is prohibited! It is a violation of University policy to
display any form of retaliation against persons
who complain or report sexual harassment or who participate
as a witness in the University’s investigation. Any
form of retaliation can be cause for disciplinary action
up to and including dismissal or expulsion from the University.
Q3.) What
are some examples of retaliation?
Examples of retaliation may include changing your grade
or graduate work, changing your pay or work conditions, demoting
or firing you. If you are being harassed or intimidated you
should file a claim for retaliation, in addition to a claim
for sexual harassment.
Q4.) Is teasing sexual harassment?
The law does not prohibit “simple teasing”.
Teasing that is genuinely harmless, for example, normal
socializing
in the workplace or classroom such as flirting, or male
horse playing that is not severe or pervasive enough to
create
an objectively hostile or abusive environment is not sexual
harassment.
Q5.) If I witness what I believe to be sexual harassment,
do I report it?
Any student or employee of the university who has witnessed
what is perceived to be sexual harassment should report
that conduct. Any supervisor who has witnessed or becomes
aware
of the alleged incidence of sexual harassment, or who receives
a complaint of sexual harassment involving a person with
in his/her department is required by University policy
and law to take prompt corrective action as appropriate
and to
report the matter to the Title IX Office.
Q6.) Does the University’s
Sexual Harassment Policy cover contractual employees?
Yes. The University’s Sexual Harassment Policy applies
to all members of the campus community including employees,
students, representatives of the University, and visitors
and participants in University sponsored programs and activities.
Q7.) People in my residence hall are always telling dirty
jokes. I am the only one in my residence hall who is offended.
Am I just too sensitive?
Everyone has a different tolerance level for what is considered
offensive. No student should tolerate behavior that makes
him or her uncomfortable. The student who is uncomfortable
should inform residence hall personnel (or the individual
(s) involved) that the behavior is unwelcome.
Q8.) What can I do to protect myself from being accused of
sexual harassment?
You can take a sexual harassment training course to learn
how to prevent sexual harassment. Most importantly, always
be professional and think before speaking or acting.
Ask
yourself:
Would
I do or say this if I knew it was going to be printed in
the newspaper?
Am
I stepping in this individual’s personal boundaries?
Would
I want any one to say or do this to my parent, spouse or
, child?
Q9.) When does sexual harassment become a crime?
Some sexually harassing behaviors can be a violation of
the law. Those behaviors may include criminal sexual
conduct, sexual assault, rape, and behaviors that meet
the legal
definitions
of criminal stalking or harassment. If you have any questions
regarding behavior that may be criminal, you should contact
the University Police Department (951) 787-5222 for assistance.
Q10.)
If I am accused of sexual harassment, what rights do I have?
Individuals accused of sexual harassment have privacy rights
that prohibit other persons, from divulging information concerning
the complaint, except as part of the sexual harassment complaint
resolution process. The accused will be informed of the allegations,
the identity of the complainant, and the facts surrounding
the allegation. In addition, individuals accused of sexual
harassment have due process rights that prohibit such individuals
from being disciplined without adequate notice and an opportunity
to be heard.
Q11.) My
friend informed me that she is being sexually harassed
on campus. What will happen if I report the behavior?
If you report the behavior, the Title IX Coordinator will contact your “friend,” to
ask if he or she feels they are being sexually harassed. If you believe the friend
is experiencing some form of sexual harassment, you should encourage him or her
to contact the Title IX/Sexual Harassment Office for advice at (951) 827-7070.
The individual will not have to give his or her name or other identifying information,
but will be provided with information on ways to resolve the sexual harassment
incident. The individual may also e-mail a message at
Q12.) What
if I want to file an anonymous complaint?
Filing an anonymous written complaint makes it extremely difficult for the
Title IX/Sexual Harassment Office to investigate the problem. Our role is to
determine the facts and, in conclusion, give the appropriate authority adequate
information to resolve the problem. It is important to remember University
policy and the law protects any one wanting to file a written complaint from
retaliation.
Q13.) What
about confidentiality?
The Title IX/Sexual Harassment Office cannot, and will not guarantee that confidentiality
will be maintained. However, we will make all reasonable efforts to keep and
protect the confidentiality of all parties involved. The individual(s) accused
have the right to know who has made the complaint and what the complaint is about.
All information received through the investigation will be kept confidential
unless an appointing University administrator has a legitimate reason to know.
