Harassment is Unacceptable
By Mona Anderson

Any kind of harassment is unacceptable on a college campus, and anyone - students, staff, or faculty - can get information or assistance or file a complaint. These policies and procedures are in flyers that are available in the Student Center, Counseling Center, and in other offices around campus, at the KSC web site under "Offices and Policies," and in the Student Handbook. Legal definitions can be found in those places.

We often think of sexual assault as sexual contact without consent - whether that is kissing, touching, grabbing, or rape. However, the cycle of sexual violence may begin with harassment and can also include sexual comments, pressuring others for sex, and treating others with disrespect.

If unwelcome, the following examples could be sexual harassment: graffiti on walls with sexual comments, sexual messages in e-mails, "catcalls" and whistles as someone walks by your house or room, rating a person's sexuality, leering at a person's genitals, repeatedly asking a person out for dates or to have sex, sexual innuendoes and comments, long hugs or sexual handshakes, pressing one's body against someone, stalking and rape.

All forms of sexual violence - visual, verbal, physical, rape - seriously affect lives. The victims of this violence often suffer with depression, mood swings, sleep disturbances, powerlessness, and fear. It can seriously affect academic performance and lead some students to withdraw from school. There is help for victims of assault and harassment on this campus.

Other kinds of harassment may not be sexual in nature, but also can interfere with our learning and work. For example, repeated phone calls from someone unknown may create fear even when the call isn't sexual. It's tempting to initially engage in conversation with the caller, thinking it might be someone you know. However, this only reinforces the behavior. The best course of action is to hang up, record the date and time of the call, and then notice if it is repeated. If the call is in any way threatening or if the caller has personal information about you that you have not provided, contact Campus Safety right away and they will contact the Keene Police Department.

Please - if you have been sexually assaulted or harassed, or in any other way harassed, tell someone and get help.