Be Known at Oregon's Christian University

2012-2013 Academic Catalog and Handbook

Anti-Harassment Policy

George Fox University students work in an environment where the dignity of each individual is respected. Demeaning gestures, threats of violence, or physical attacks directed toward another person are not tolerated. This includes hazing or other initiations or any actions that may be hazardous, dehumanizing, harassing, or humiliating to community members. Also included is the use of telephones, United States or campus mail, or e-mail for the purpose of issuing obscene, harassing, or threatening messages. Also, vandalism of property is unacceptable.

Harassment due to race, color, sex, marital status, religion, creed, age, national origin, citizenship status, workers' compensation status, physical or mental disability, veteran's status, or any other status protected under applicable local, state, or federal law is prohibited.

A person may commit criminal harassment if he or she intentionally harasses or annoys another person by:

  • Subjecting another person to offensive physical contact
  • Publicly insulting another person with abusive words or gestures in a manner intended and likely to provoke a violent response

Sexual Harassment

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature may constitute sexual harassment when:

  1. Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment or academic status;
  2. Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual influences employment or academic status decisions affecting such individual; or
  3. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work, academic, or student life environment.

The conduct prohibited may be verbal, visual, or physical in nature. It includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, physical touching, or the granting or withholding of benefits (e.g., pay, promotion, time off, and grades) in response to sexual contact. More subtle forms of inappropriate behavior such as offensive posters, cartoons, caricatures, comments, and jokes of a sexual nature are prohibited, as they may constitute sexual harassment when they contribute to a hostile or offensive work, academic, or student life environment.

Complaint Procedure for Harassment

If any employee or student believes he or she has witnessed discrimination or harassment, has been discriminated against, or has been subjected to sexual or other forms of harassment, the person should immediately report it as follows:

  1. If the alleged incident involves two students (outside the context of student employment), the vice president for student life or the dean of students should be contacted.
  2. If the alleged incident involves a student and a faculty member, the academic dean, the provost, or the vice president for student life should be contacted.
  3. If the alleged incident involves one or more support staff, administrators, faculty members, or student employees, then a supervisor, the director of human resources, the provost, or any vice president should be contacted.

Complaints are to be investigated promptly and appropriate corrective action taken. No one will suffer retaliation for reporting concerns about discrimination or harassment.

Retaliation is prohibited for good-faith reporting of concerns about discrimination or harassment. Employees who are asked to testify during an investigation are expected to cooperate fully. Retaliation against them for doing so is not tolerated. Any employee found to have engaged in discrimination, harassment, or retaliation is subject to immediate disciplinary action as deemed appropriate by the university, up to and including termination.

Up Down