Harassment Guide a Valuable Resource

   _Dealing with Harassment at MIT_ is a valuable resource for victims of
   harassment. Despite the problems with the Institute's harassment
   policy, the guide itself does an excellent job bringing together
   information necessary -- not only for the complainant, but also the
   respondent, complaint handlers, and bystanders.
   
   Although its length may seem intimidating, the guide begins with a
   table that identifies all the people at MIT who deal with harassment
   and what services they can offer. This comprehensive listing can only
   make it easier for victims of harassment to find help.
   
   The guide also recognizes that there are many forms of harassment that
   should be addressed, but do not warrant a formal grievance. Lengthy
   sections describe preventative measures to stop offending behavior
   without creating confrontation between individuals involved.
   Procedures for formal grievances are also explained in great detail.
   
   Unfortunately, the guide sidesteps some important issues. It correctly
   explains that there is a wide range of ambiguous behavior that will
   offend some people but not others, and it offers many approaches for
   victims and complaint handlers to take. But its discussion of freedom
   of speech is lacking. The guide suggests that people who have
   "offended others by their manner of expression should consider
   immediately stopping the offense and apologizing."
   
   The guide offers little reassurance that constitutional guarantees
   have been considered. Even if it does not prohibit offensive speech
   outright, it never explains that the Constitution guarantees a wide
   range of freedoms, including the right to say things that offend other
   people. Freedom of expression is central to the role of the university
   and the guide should say so clearly and unambiguously.
   
   Despite some equivocation on freedom of speech, _Dealing with
   Harassment at MIT_ is a step forward for the handling of harassment.
   Its clear delineation of procedures and resources for stopping and
   preventing harassment should prove useful to victims of harassment and
   the entire community.
   

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Copyright 1993 by The Tech. All rights reserved.
This story was published on  Tuesday,  November 16, 1993.
Volume  113, Number 58
The story was printed on page  4.
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