SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Index of contents on this page:

• Summary of sexual harassment
  • What is sexual harassment?
  • What type of behavior is sexual harassment?
  • Your rights at the LACCD
  • Simple guidelines for avoiding sexual harassment
  • Who can be a victim of sexual harassment?
• LACCD Prohibited Discrimination And Harassment Policy
• Summary - LACCD Prohibited Discrimination And Harassment Policy
• Unlawful Discrimination Complaint Form
• What to do and who to contact

What is Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment is one form of sex discrimination. Sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature where:

• Submission to the conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment, academic status, or progress.
• Submission to, or rejection of, the conduct is used as the basis for employment or academic decisions.
• Conduct has the purpose or effect of having a negative impact upon work or academic performance, or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or educational environment.

It is important to understand that any type of sexual harassment can be blatant or it can be very subtle. It can take the form of one serious incident or more subtle acts that continue over time. The latter is more common. Sexual harassment can be intentional or unintentional.

What type of behavior is sexual harassment?

It is important to be aware that sexual remarks or physical conduct of a sexual nature may be offensive or can make some people uncomfortable even if you wouldn't feel the same way yourself.

It is therefore sometimes difficult to know what type of behavior is sexual harassment.

The following examples will give you a guide:

• Verbal harassment or sexual abuse
• Written notes or emails of a sexual nature
• Continuing unwelcome flirtation or propositions
• Persistent pressure for dates
• Unwelcome and continuous comments about your body
• Disparaging sexual remarks about your gender
• Repeated sexist jokes, dirty jokes or sexual slurs about your clothing, body, or sexual activities
• Deliberate blocking of physical movement
• Repeated and unwelcome touching or brushing up against you
• Obscene gestures or sounds
• Demands for sexual favors accompanied by implied or overt threats
• Display of sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons, posters, screen savers.
• Request for sex in exchange for grades, recommendations, job opportunities.
• Making reprisals, threats or implied threats of reprisal following rejection of harassment by withholding grades, promotion or scholarship recommendation or a poor performance evaluation.
• Making unwelcome, unsolicited contact with sexual overtones (written, verbal, physical and/or visual contact)

Your rights at the LACCD

You have a right:

• To work and study in an atmosphere free of harassment and discrimination.
• To be judged by the same criteria as all others, not by standards that are less demanding, or more rigorous, or different in any way.
• To complain, free of retaliation.
• To be treated fairly and without prejudice whether you are making a complaint, are witnessed to a complaint, or are charged with a complaint.

If you believe you have been sexually harassed you need to do something about it.

Doing something about sexual harassment means that you may solve the problem. This will makes things better for you and also for other people in the future.

Doing nothing means that the situation will stay the same or get worse.

Any individual who believes that his or her employment and/or educational environment have been violated through acts of sexual harassment may file a charge.

Simple guidelines for avoiding sexual harassment

We all want to work and study in an environment that is pleasant and happy where we can enjoy working with our colleagues, furthering our education and meeting new friends.

If you follow these simple guidelines it will help you avoid creating a hostile environment and making someone else feel uncomfortable:

• If unsure if certain comments or behavior are offensive do not do it, do not say it.
• Do not repeat behavior if you have been told that it is not wanted. If you are in doubt, stop the behavior.
• Ask if something you do or say is being perceived as offensive or unwelcome. If the answer is yes, stop the behavior.
• Do not interpret someone's silence as consent. Look for other nonverbal signals, such as avoidance of eye contact or folded arms when she/he is around you.
• Do not retaliate if someone accuses you of sexual harassment. Retaliation is against the law and is considered an additional or separate offense.

Who can be a victim of sexual harassment?

The victim may be a woman or a man. The victim does not have to be of the opposite sex of the harasser. The victim does not have to be the person directly harassed but could be anyone affected by the offensive conduct.

It is the policy of the LACCD to provide an educational, employment and business environment free from unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct or communications constituting sexual harassment.

Employees, students, or other persons acting on behalf of the District who engage in sexual harassment as defined in this policy or by state or federal law shall be subject to discipline, up to and including discharge, expulsion, or termination of contract.

	Official LACCD Prohibited Discrimination and Harassment Policy Chapter XV of the Board Rules (link opens new browser window)
	Official Summary LACCD Prohibited Discrimination and Harassment Policy (link opens new browser window)

If you believe you have been sexually harassed and would like to file a complaint you can download a copy of the LACCD complaint form and send it to the Compliance Officer at your college or send it to District Office of Diversity Programs.

Official LACCD Unlawful Discrimination Complaint Form (link opens new browser window)

Sexual harassment will not go away by ignoring it.

Whether sexual harassment comes from a person in authority or a peer, it is not acceptable. LACCD regards any behavior which is sexually harassing as a violation of the standards of conduct required for everyone associated with the LACCD, whether faculty, staff or students.

If you have been sexually harassed you need to do something about it. There are a number of things you can do:

• Do not put up with any behavior that offends you. Start by saying No! Ask the person to stop. Tell the person that his or her behavior is making you uncomfortable, if you feel that you can do this. There are other ways of addressing the situation if this approach is not right for you.
• Write a letter or e-mail the harasser and ask them to stop.
• Keep a written record of what has happened to you. Remember to include the name of the harasser what happened, where it happened, and when it happened. If there were any witnesses record their names. Save any written material, including pictures, notes, and email that are part of the harassment. You may be tempted to get rid of it immediately, especially if it is offensive. However, your feelings may change over time about whether or not you want to file a complaint, and that physical evidence will be very helpful in holding someone accountable.
• Be informed. Know your rights and responsibilities and read the LACCD's Prohibited Discrimination and Harassment Policy .

If the offending behavior continues or if you believe that you are being sexually harassed and cannot confront the person, ask for assistance.

If you are located at one of the colleges we encourage you to contact your College Compliance Office.

If you are located at the District Office contact the Office of Diversity Programs.