Student Handbook: Code of Responsibility- Harassment

Relevant Excerpt

Harassment: Hostile Environment Harassment or Quid Pro Quo Harassment as defined by the Davidson College Non-Discrimination and Non-Harassment Policy.

Hostile Environment Harassment

Unwelcome conduct based on a Protected Status that is subjectively and objectively offensive and is so severe or pervasive that it limits or denies a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from a college Education Program or Activity. For the definition of Protected Status, please see the Davidson College Non-Discrimination and Non-Harassment Policy. Harassment is defined as:

• Unwelcome verbal, written, or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual because of that individual's Protected Status (or that of an individual's relatives, friends, or associates);
• Unwelcome threats, derogatory comments, jokes, innuendoes, insults, slurs, epithets, negative stereotyping, and other similar conduct that relate to the individual’s Protected Status; or
• The placement, dissemination or circulation in the workplace or on campus of any unwelcome written or graphic material (in hard copy or electronic form) that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group because of their Protected Status.

Determining whether a hostile environment has been created is a fact-specific inquiry that considers the totality of the circumstances and may include consideration of the following: the degree to which the conduct at issue affected the Complainant’s ability to access the college’s Education Program or Activity; the nature, scope, type, frequency, and duration of the conduct at issue; the ages, identity, and relationships of the persons involved; and other Hostile Environment Harassment in the college’s University’s Education Program or Activity, if any.

Quid Pro Quo Harassment

A form of sexual harassment where someone with authority or a perception of authority conditions a job or academic benefit on the submission or tolerance of sexual advances or other conduct based on sex. Submission to, tolerance, or rejection of such conduct is used as an explicit or implicit condition or basis for employment or academic decisions.