Discrimination and Harassment
Overview
At SBU, OEA conducts thorough, fair and equitable investigations into all allegations of discrimination, including sexual misconduct which violate Stony Brook policy and federal and state laws. Allegations of discrimination on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, familial status, pregnancy, genetic predisposition, criminal convictions, domestic violence victim status, and veteran or military status and all other protected classes under federal or state laws can reported using our Report Form for Allegations of Discrimination. For more information on Stony Brook Policy prohibiting discrimination and conduct that should be reported, please see P105: Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Actionin the University Policy Manual.
Case Study - University of Miami: Professor defends sexual harassment
Case Study - Louisiana State University: Professor terminated for crude language
The Law
All colleges and universities that receive federal funding are responsible for ensuring that their campuses are free of discrimination and harassment.The two most significant federal statutes regulating speech in higher education are Title VI and Title IX, which prevent discrimination on the basis of race and sex, respectively. [from PEN website]
What is Title VI?
Title VIof the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. Title VI states that:
No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
Our Principles
- No faculty, staff, administrator, or student shall engage in or threaten to engage in behavior that endangers the health or safety of another person.
- No faculty, staff, administrator, or student shall engage in harassment. Harassment includes behavior that is unwelcome; and discriminatory on the basis of a protected status (like gender or race); and is directed at an individual; and is sufficiently severe and pervasive such that it interferes with an individual’s work or education program and/or activities.
- No faculty, staff, administrator, or student shall retaliate against another member of the community for bringing forth a complaint or serving as a witness.
- No faculty, staff, administrator, or student shall violate the rights of or deny the privileges of the University community to another person for reasons of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, familial status, pregnancy, genetic predisposition, criminal convictions, domestic violence victim status, and veteran or military status, or other rights and privileges as may be protected under federal, state and/or local law.