[0574] sethf@ATHENA.MIT.EDU MIT_harassment 09/30/92 10:09 (46 lines) Subject: Latest MIT Harassment Policy Today's _Tech Talk_ has an insert of MIT "Policies and Procedures". On the upper left-hand corner of page 2 is the "Policy on Harassment". For everyone's benefit, I've typed it in below (any typos are probably my own): "Policy on Harassment" "Harassment of any kind is not acceptable behavior at MIT; it is inconsistent with the commitment to excellence that characterizes MIT's activities. MIT is committed to creating an environment in which every individual can work, study and live without being harassed. Harassment may therefore lead to sanctions up to and including termination of employment or student status. Harassment is any conduct, verbal or physical, on or off campus, which has the intent or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's or group's educational or work performance at MIT or which creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational, work or living environment. Some kinds of harassment are prohibited by civil laws or by MIT policies on conflict of interest and nondiscrimination (see relevant sections of ""Policies and Procedures"). Harassment on the basis on [sic] race, color, gender, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or age includes harassment of an individual in terms of a stereotyped group characteristic, or because of that person's identification with a particular group. Sexual harassment may take many forms. Sexual assault and requests for sexual favors which affect educational or employment decisions constitute sexual harassment. However, sexual harassment may also consist of unwanted physical contact and requests for sexual favors, visual displays of degrading sexual images, sexually suggestive conduct, or offensive remarks of a sexual nature. The Institute is committed under this policy to stopping harassment and associated retaliatory behavior. All MIT supervisors have a responsibility to act to stop harassment in the areas under their supervision. General complaint procedures are described in Section 3.33. Guidelines that give detailed suggestions for dealing with complaints are available from the Office of the Provost. Any member of the MIT community who feels harassed is encouraged to seek assistance and resolution of the complaint. To implement the policy on harassment, MIT provides a variety of avenues by which an individual who feels harassed may proceed. These procedures are intended to assure confidentiality, prevent retaliation, and achieve prompt resolution of complaints while protecting the rights of the person bringing the complaint and of the person accused of harassment. --[0574]--