Sexual Harassment Complaint At Clark Atlanta University example essay topic

Sexually Harassment at Clark Atlanta University For many years issues regarding sexual harassment has been kept quiet and swept underneath the rug. However, presently, more and more people are speaking up and out about being sexually harassed. In the schools, students, as well as, teachers are informed of the school's sexual harassment policy and that it is not to be tolerated in any form or fashion. Also, since sexual harassment has become an major issue in the workplace, men and women are told about a company's policy of sexual harassment at the time of the company's orientation.

They are also educated about the consequences behind such undesirable behavior or acts, which could lead to job termination or probation with a company. Hence, more and more companies are gradually doing away with employee-employee relationships on the job, especially if one of the employees hold a high position or a certain status. In any event, when filing a sexual harassment complaint their are specific procedures that a person must follow. These procedures varies form institution to institution. This paper will evaluate the proper procedure in filing a sexual harassment complaint at Clark Atlanta University and the reaction received from the administration and students when such accusations are brought before the public. In filing a sexual harassment complaint at Clark Atlanta University one must follow specific guidelines.

First, anyone who feels that he or she has been the victim of sexual harassment should contact the Director of Human Resources in Harkness Hall within 15 working days of the incident. The report can be made verbally or written. If the report is written they must submitted a signed statement of the complaint within (3) working days. avis 2 Secondly, after the Director has received the complaint, they will contact the person who allegedly initiated the sexual harassment and give them (7) working days to respond to the complaint. Thirdly, upon receiving the response from the alleged person, the Director carefully reads the response and facts and summaries the complaint. She then sends this summary to Provost.

Provost after reviewing the facts of the investigation, which includes interviews with all parties involved, will determine if sexual harassment has occurred or not. Then all parties will receive a written notice of Provost decision. Fourth, if Provost does decided that sexual harassment took place severe disciplinary action including discharge will be taken. This act depends on the severity and frequency of the offense filed. Finally, if he or she fail to file a written complaint after verbally making the sexual harassment report within (3) working day will be considered to be a withdrawal. Also, if the person whom the complaint was filed against fails to respond in (7) working days, disciplinary measure will be taken under these circumstances.

In addition, in my pursuit to filing a sexual harassment complaint at Clark, I decided to do an experiment involving my physical appearance. Meaning, I changed from my normal attire into an attire that most would probably be consider inappropriate. The intent of my experiment was to capture the administrations nonverbal cues such as their facial expression and body language directed towards me when both the students and the administration hear the topic of discussion. Unfortunately, nonverbal cues often discourage victims from filing a sexual harassment complaint. avis, 3 The victim may feel as if they are treated like the offender instead of the victim.

So, in search to find out whether the administration's nonverbal cues were going to be warm, cold, compassionate, or neutral; I wore an slightly inappropriate attire. As my friend and I walked into the students affair office, I noticed to my right a lady seating behind a desk and another women sitting in front of her in a chair. I told the lady seating behind the desk that my name was Keisha Avis and I wanted to know the proper procedure in filing a sexual harassment complaint. Waiting for her response and watching for her nonverbal cues, I received a kind of distant, but cold stare. The lady began to talk, but her focus was not on me. She kept fumbling around with papers on her desk and I barely got any eye to eye contact.

She informed me that the person whom I should speak to about this matter was out of town at the moment and would not be back until tomorrow. At that moment, I asked the lady is their anyway that the person whom I needed to speak with could see me tomorrow on account of I have a research paper to write and I needed to get more information about filing a sexual harassment complaint at Clark. After I told her this complaint was dealing with a research paper that I had to do for a class, she made a comment which I considered to be disturbing. She said, I m glad that this was a paper because Clark did not need anymore negativity. All of a sudden, her perception of me seemed to change, not to mention, her nonverbal cues.

Her I eye-to-eye contact became stronger and the tone in her voice lightened up a little. She seemed to be more eager to help me now than she did previously. Furthermore, I came back to that office the next day and the person whom I was suppose to speak with was still not there. I asked the lady avis, 4 whom I spoke with the day before was there anyone else that I could address about this matter. She assisted my friend and I to another lady who's office was on the left. We enter into the office and I again introduced myself to her and I told her that I wanted to find out the proper procedure in filing a sexual harassment complaint.

She replied, I honestly do not know what the procedure is when filing a sexual harassment complaint at Clark, but it is handle in Harkness Hall on the 2nd floor in the Human Resource Office. So, my friend and I walked to Harkness Hall to the Human Resource Office and again I introduced myself to the two ladies sitting in the office. I informed them of the reason for me being there, which was to file an sexual harassment complaint. Again, looking for nonverbal cues I received a bland and expressionless facial expression from the both of them. I told the ladies that someone in the Student Affairs Office told me to as for Ms. Blank and said that she could help me with this matter. One of the ladies spoke up and said, I m Ms. Blank.

I proceeded to tell her that I was doing a research paper on this topic and I needed to get more information about this subject. She said, the only thing that I can do is give you a card with the person in charge name and extention and you should call them back some time tomorrow. So, the next day I call the person in charge and she basically told me that the information I needed was in the student handbook and that the information she would give me about the procedure in filing a sexual harassment complaint would be right out the student handbook as well. Then, I asked her could she confer any information about sexual harassment complaints that have been filed in the past. She told me that she could not because she was not sure if she could release that kind of i avis, 5 information and that she would have to speak with the Director of Human Resources before doing so.

Finally, I contacted Public Safety and told them that I wanted to know the procedure in filing a sexual harassment complaint and Sergeant Reid instructed me to come down to her office to talk. At her office, she gave me information about Clark's procedure in filing a sexual harassment complaint. She also informed that last year Clark only had one filed sexual harassment case. Public safety's definition of sexual harassment involves physical contact between the two parties. She enlightened me in regards to a case involving a teacher and student. The young lady at the University claimed that a teacher fondled her breasts one day in his office while they were going over some classwork.

She reported this to Human Resources and the Director of human resources notified the teacher and instructed him to report to the public safety office at a specific date and time. When the teacher was asked about the charges brought against him; he admitted to committing the charges, but claimed that they were mutual. Public Safety filed a case against him and both parties had to go to court. Public safety also found out that a colleague of his filed a similar complaint in reference to sexual harassment.

Unfortunately, public safety does not know the outcome of the court case. In 1998 two cases of sexual harassment were reported and filed with public safety. One dealing with an off-campus stalking. A girl on campus was being harassed by someone who did not attend the university. The other case dealt with domestic violence. A couple at the university spilt up and the young men in the relationship did avis, 6 not want to leave the young lady alone.

He made obscene gestures to her, as well as, comments involving their love life. Moreover, I interviewed 50 students at Clark, 25 males and 25 females. I asked both groups have they ever been sexually harassed physically or verbally. Sixteen of the females reported have be sexually harassed verbally, 7 reported to have been sexual harassed physically, and 2 reported that have never been sexually harassed. When I interviewed the males on campus, all 25 of them reported that they have never been sexually harassed physically or verbally. In conclusion, in my pursuit of filing a sexual harassment complaint at Clark Atlanta University, I feel very discouraged.

I honestly feel that Clark's administration handled themselves inadequately. Some of the administration staff did know of their institution's policies or procedure and were not helpful in helping me find knowledge pertaining to my situation. Their nonverbal cues were desolate. I felt like they were not really concerned with the accusation I brought forth to them. I assume my appearance played an important role in their efforts in helping with this matter. I gather that the administration let their perception and first impression of me influence their nonverbal responses towards me.

My clothes conveyed one message of me, but my personality conveyed another. I can only imagine the thoughts that may have crossed their minds when I told them that I want to know the procedure in filing a sexual harassment compliant. All in all, from my own personal experience, I do not feel confident in filing a sexual harassment complaint at Clark. I seriously, doubt that I will be treated fairly. I believe that avis, 7 people's personal judgments will interfere with the proper procedure of filing a sexual harassment complaint. However, I could be wrong!

For many years issues regarding sexual harassment has been kept quiet and swept underneath the rug. If the report is written they must submitted a signed statement of the complaint within (3) working days.