Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:
Sexual harassment is a form of gender discrimination that typically involves a pattern of unwelcome conduct of a sexual or gender-specific nature that interferes with the education or work of others. Sexual harassment violates University Policy 1025 as well as state and federal laws such as the Virginia Human Rights Act, Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendment to such Act. Such violations can result in disciplinary action for employee or student offenders as severe as dismissal or expulsion. In addition to university sanction, persons who engage in sexual harassment may be subject to civil or criminal action.
Sexual harassment can be verbal, written or physical and ranges from subtle innuendos of sexual nature or derogatory gender-specific comments to physical exposure, assault or coerced sexual relations. It happens in relationships of both equal and unequal power and, while most victims are women, men can be victims of sexual harassment and both men and women can be offenders, even of same sex victims.