University Policy
Sexual discrimination, including sexual harassment, shall be a violation of the policy for the State University of New York at Fredonia.
What Is Sexual Discrimination?
"No person in the United States shall on the basis of sex be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972.
What Is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment may include repeated unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature carried out by someone in the workplace or educational setting. Such behavior may offend the recipient, cause discomfort or humiliation and interfere with job or school performance.
Peer Harassment - Students have a right to an environment free from sexual harassment, not only by persons in positions of power, but by any member of the university community. Sexual harassment constitutes a serious threat to the free interaction and exchange necessary for educational and personal development.
Sexual harassment may range from inappropriate sexual innuendos to coerced sexual relations. It can happen to both men and women, but a woman is more often the victim.
What Can Be Done About Sexual Discrimination/Harassment?
What can a student do when they believes that. . .
- course material ignores or depreciates a student because of their sex?
- an adviser does not take a student's career and educational goals seriously because they appear to believe them inappropriate for members of their sex?
- a student is denied resources, such as financial aid, teaching assistantships, or admission to a program for sexist reasons?
- a student is pressured by a professor or staff person to participate with them in unwelcomed social and/or sexual activities?
Students often feel powerless in such situations but there are people on campus who are willing to talk to them about those problems without any obligation on the part of either party. Such situations as those described above are not condoned by the State University of New York at Fredonia or the teaching profession. In some instances they occur out of ignorance and misunderstanding and need only to be brought to the attention of the professor. In other instances they can be considered unethical and subject to professional reprimand.
Actions a Student Can Take
(In suggested order)
1. The student can talk to the professor or staff person, carefully explaining why they views the particular comment, joke, course reading, action taken, etc. as sexist. The student should regard the meeting as a kind of consciousness-raising session where they can help them understand how they feels. Sometimes people aren't aware of how their remarks or actions affect someone else, and communicating their feelings to the professor might be the most helpful to them in avoiding such actions in the future. The student is to be sure to prepare for the meeting ahead of time with documentation (e.g., class notes, tapes, specific comments they made and a logical presentation). Sometimes people don't understand how sexist remarks can hurt; it might help the student to draw the analogy of racist or anti-ethnic remarks - "Would you make fun of a person's skin color or ethnic background? Then why do so with sex?" To get support the student should consider going to see the professor with several other people from class. If they can't find others in the class (and discussing the issues with other students in itself may help raise consciousness), they should take friends along who aren't in the class. The student might also seek help from those listed below.
2. The student should contact University people and groups who are empowered to address sexual discrimination. These people are willing to listen, discuss specific incidents, and provide help and advice if wanted:
Dr. William Boerner, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (716) 673-3358
Chief Ann Burns, University Police (716) 673-3333
Dr. David E. Herman, Student Affairs (716) 673- 3271
Mrs. Julie Bezek, Counseling Center (716) 673- 3424
Mrs. Lisa Newell, Judicial Affairs (716) 673-3271
Mrs. Monica White, Student Affairs (716) 673- 3271
Ms. Jellema Stewart, Multicultural Affairs (716) 673- 3398
3. If a student has talked to the professor or staff person and sexual discrimination continues, the student should write a letter to them documenting the incidents and explaining why they are offensive. The student should state that they have not obtained results from previous discussion(s) and note the date(s) of the discussion(s). The student should send a carbon copy to the head of their department or unit and to one of the above-listed people. Students who fail to receive a satisfactory answer from the staff members and/or head, should request a meeting with the two of them and take along an objective third party (another professor or perhaps one of the people in the above list).
4. Students should not enroll in classes that are sexually discriminatory, and should let the professor know why they haven't enrolled. In filling out course evaluation forms, a student should make it known why they have been offended by such discriminatory comments or actions. If the professor has responded to earlier complaints and has made efforts to change, support those efforts in the evaluation. Students are asked to remember to always give full support to professors who are fair and who treat students as human beings regardless of sex.
5. It may be necessary to file a formal grievance or complaint. This is a very serious step and should not be undertaken without discussion and counsel with a staff member who understands established grievance procedures at Fredonia. Once again, students are asked to consult with one of the people on the above list.
Credit for the above is readily given to the Project on the Status and Education of Women, Association of American Colleges, 1818 R Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., and the Utah State University Committee on the Status of Women.