Comprehensive Policy and Procedures for Addressing Discrimination, Sexual Misconduct, and Retaliation: Discriminatory Harassment

Relevant Excerpt

Discriminatory harassment is intentional, unwelcome, and offensive conduct towards a person on the basis of one or more actual or perceived Protected Characteristic(s). 

Discriminatory harassment can create a hostile environment when the unwelcome conduct, based on the totality of the circumstances, is both 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 the University’s educational programs or activities. 

Objective offensiveness is assessed from the position of a reasonable person in the same or similar circumstances as the affected party. Discriminatory harassment may – but need not – include physical or verbal abuse, the use of slurs, epithets, or derogatory terms, threats, mockery, intimidation, bullying, and/or hazing. 

When a hostile environment has been created due to discriminatory harassment, Loyola will take reasonable, timely, and effective steps to eliminate the hostile environment and to remedy the resulting harm. 

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A hostile environment is created when sexual harassment is: 

• so severe or pervasive, 

• that it unreasonably interferes with, limits, or effectively denies a person’s ability to access, participate in, or benefit from Loyola’s educational programs or activities.