Page 12 University Daily Kansan, August 20, 1981
SenEx examines two versions of sexual harassment policy
By LIZ HOPPE Staff Reporter
Reports of sexual harassment at universities across the country have sparked a campaign for the adoption of a sexual harassment policy affecting student-teacher relationships at the University of Kansas.
According to the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Guidelines, unlawful sexual harassment occurs when sexual conduct affects the seeking, obtaining or keeping of a job or when sexual conduct interferes with promotions, raises or satisfactory working conditions.
KU is required by law to develop a policy on sexual fairness as it applies to employer-employee relationships.
At a University Senate Executive Committee meeting Monday, Ernest Angino, chairman, said that out of fairness to students, the University sexual harassment policy also should be reviewed. The most recent draft of KU sexual harassment policy was submitted to SenEx at the Monday meeting.
Universities that have led the way in such policy adoption include Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Rutgers University and Stanford University.
COMPLAINTS OF sexual harassment are on the rise in the nation's universities. The dismissal of one faculty member at San Jose State University in California, the suspension of another at the University of California-Berkley and the suspension of an associate professor at San Francisco university were all the result of sexual harassment cases.
The sudden publicity sexual harassment has received in recent years has been largely because of the sudden awareness that sexual abuse exists, said Joan Sherwood, assistant vice-chancellor for student affairs.
"It was a situation that wasn't addressed before because there was no label for it. It was kind of a hidden issue," Sherwood said.
Sherwood attended a Denver convention on sexual harassment that examined university sexual harassment policies, the law concerning sexual harassment and grievance procedures.
FROM THE INFORMATION
Sherwood received at the March convention and contributions from other agencies on campus, an initial draft of KU's policy was formulated. The policy was through numerous changes since then and now is being examined by SenEx.
"I think they're moving in the right direction, and I think they'll end up with a good policy." Sherwood said. "I have been pleased with the process."
The most recent draft of the proposed policy defines sexual harassment of students as "the use of the authority vested in an employee of the University by virtue of his or her position to compel a student to engage in sexual relations as a necessary condition of continued advancement, proper evaluation or other services and benefits to which the student is held in the workplace, in the employee of the University by virtue of his or her position to retaliate against a student for refusing to engage in sexual relations of said employee."
Students who have been sexually harassed according to these guidelines are advised to follow the Affirmative Action grievance procedure and to seek the services of the office of academic affairs, the office of research, graduate
students and public service and the office of student affairs.
The policy also provides that "the solicitation of sexual relations by a student at the University for the purpose of influencing an individual's performance in his or her official duties, to give them the harassment." Students engaging in such actions will be disciplined accordingly, the draft states.
PERCEIVED INFRACTIONS of sexual conduct because of social or cultural differences can be dealt with by an open, direct discussion with the person involved, according to the draft. If the situation remains unresolved, the should be brought to the attention of the person's chairperson dean, it said.
The office of Affirmative Action will investigate complaints and provide counseling for those who have been sexually harassed.
The University director of facility operations, the University director of institutional research, information systems and personnel services and the University ombudsman can also counsel those who believe they have been harassed, the proposed policy said.
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