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.