Confidential RSVP counselors are available 24/7

24/7 Emergency Support

If you need immediate medical care or are in danger, please call:

  • On Campus:  314-935-5555
  • Off-Campus:  911

In the moment emotional support, please call:

  • Provident WashU:  314-935-6666
  • SARAH Peer Counseling during the academic year: 314-935-8080

Sexual harassment is defined as any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favor, or other unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, including sexual violence, whether committed on or off campus.

Sexual harassment characteristics

  1. Submission to conduct of a sexual nature is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of an individual’s employment or academic advancement;
  2. Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis or threatened to be used as the basis for employment or academic decisions or assessments affecting an individual; or
  3. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or educational performance or creating an intimidating or hostile environment for work or learning.

This conduct will typically be directed against a particular individual or individuals and will either be abusive or severely humiliating or will persist despite the objection of the person targeted by the speech or conduct. Sexual harassment can be:

Verbal
Visual
Physical
Communicated in writing or electronically

Some conduct obviously constitutes sexual harassment – such as a threat that a grade or promotion will depend on submission to a sexual advance. But whether particular conduct constitutes sexual harassment will often depend upon the specific context of the situation, including the participants’ understanding of the situation, their past dealings with each other, the nature of their professional relationship (e.g., supervisor-subordinate, colleague, etc.) and the specific setting. The inquiry can be particularly complex in an academic community, where the free and open exchange of ideas and viewpoints preserved by the concept of academic freedom may sometimes prove distasteful, disturbing or offensive to some.

Some examples of conduct which may constitute sexual harassment (other conduct may also qualify as harassment)

Examples of conduct which may constitute sexual harassment include but are not limited to:

Requests for sexual favors
Hugging, rubbing, touching, patting, pinching or brushing another’s body
Inappropriate whistling or staring
Veiled suggestions of sexual activities
Requests for private meetings outside of class or business hours for other than legitimate mentoring purposes
Use in the classroom of sexual jokes, stories or images in no way germane to the subject of the class
Remarks about a person ’s body or sexual relationships, activities or experience
Use of inappropriate body images to advertise events
Sexual violence, including but not limited to rape, sexual assault, sexual battery and sexual coercion

Sexual harassment can be an extremely upsetting experience, leading to feelings of helplessness, fear, humiliation or discomfort. As with any form of sexual violence, there is no right or wrong way to respond to sexual harassment, and each individual’s reaction will be unique. The RSVP Center is committed to supporting students who have experienced or are experiencing sexual harassment at the university.

You can learn more by reading the full discrimination and harassment policy, which also contains information on the procedures for reporting or making a complaint of sexual harassment. The harassment policy pertains to all members of the university community.