Last Tuesday, October 21, I walked through the first floor hallway of Gorgas on my way to my 8 a.m. class and noticed signs for a dorm event that afternoon. These signs read: “How to Avoid and Prevent Sexual Assault.” Slow to process things as I tend to be early in the morning, I did a double take. How to AVOID sexual assault?! I looked over the sign once more, taking note of the event time, before heading out the door. The ten minute trek from Gorgas to central campus gave me time to mull over the wording. Was it being implied that it is ones personal responsibility to avoid being sexually assaulted? Would the speaker suggest we drink less, and all those other ideas that could never realistically be implemented tomorrow?
So I went to the event. I would like to possibly relabel it as: “How to Recognize and Address Sexual Harassment.” With Halloween and Fall Party in the upcoming weeks, and the dangers that follow all the activities associated with big party weekends like these, the dorm staff of Gorgas and Quintard thought it would be an appropriate time for such an event. So they brought out Dr. Berner, the University’s Title IX coordinator, to discuss sexual harassment—the overarching term that encompasses sexual misconduct and assault. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, according to the U.S Department of Education website, “protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities which receive Federal financial assistance.” Dr. Bermer’s responsibility is to oversee Sewanee’s compliance with Title IX in all spheres: athletic, hiring, admissions and financial aid, and sexual misconduct falls in to her territory as well.
Dr. Berner talked briefly about the University’s process of handling reports of sexual misconduct. First, there has to be a report. Only this past year were reports able to be filed anonymously, and while an increase in reports was seen last year (33 total reports), the administration believes this is not a actual increase in incidents, but rather a more realistic representation of occurences. Second, an investigation is conducted by the Deans when there are individuals mentioned. Dr. Berner will read the reports from the Deans and suggest following up on certain aspects or asking different questions. Then, determined based on the information provided on current events, and on the past if deemed pertinent to the case, a hearing may or may not be held. If no names whatsoever are mentioned, as is not uncommonly seen in these reports, no investigation can be held, but data can be gathered: do these incidents cluster around a certain date? A certain location?
Often overlooked when discussing sexual misconduct, especially in the college setting, is the occurrence of sexual harassment in education as well as in the workplace. What Dr. Berner pointed out was that harassment is hard to define, as it is not always obvious. It is anything that denies or limits ones ability to participate or benefit from educational programs—but it is also so much more than that. It can be anything verbal, nonverbal, or physical that makes someone uncomfortable. What about seemingly harmless teasing or flirting that ends up being unwanted? A key trait of sexual harassment is that it is one sided. What if a professor makes a sexist comment or says something that makes you uncomfortable? If you’re not sure, you should still tell someone about it. Dr. Berner said that sometimes one incident won’t be enough to classify it as sexual harassment, but repeated incidents, especially after being asked to stop, will. In the workplace you can talk to the human resources department. At Sewanee, you can email Dr. Berner at titleix@sewanee.edu, or you can talk to a Dean, the area coordinators, or your proctors.
When it comes to addressing sexual harassment you should confront it, you should talk about it, and you should draw a hard line. By doing this, you begin to address the culture. If you’re not comfortable confronting it or talking about it yourself, you should still talk to someone else about it. Do not wait to see if it’ll go away. Sexual harassment can happen to anyone, male or female, and it can happen anywhere. By reporting it you help prevent it: whether aware of his or her actions, or a misinterpretation of words or intentions, the offender will hopefully never be a part of the problem again; by drawing hard lines, and reporting anything that goes beyond that, the culture will become increasingly less tolerant of sexual harassment, no matter how seemingly small.
Words have power. I initially interpreted the event sign to be accusatory or perpetuating of victim-blaming, the complete opposite of its intention. Someone else may not intend for his or her words or actions to offend, harass, or make uncomfortable, but it should nevertheless be brought to his or her attention the effect they had. As we become increasingly aware and responsible of our behaviors and how they affect others, and demonstrate a clear intolerance for sexual harassment in our community, we will continue promoting a good campus culture and bring this awareness and accountability with ourselves as we enter the real world.Â