Sexual Misconduct, Harassment, and Discrimination Policies

Knox College will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, or sexual misconduct. Any violation of these policies may be subject to disciplinary action. Complaints alleging discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, or sexual misconduct involving staff should be directed to a supervisor or the Director of Human Resources. Complaints involving faculty should be directed to the Dean of the College. The College Grievance Procedures have been established to address student to student complaints.

Policy Against Discrimination
Knox College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender identity or expression, race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation or affectional preference, age, marital status, disability or other irrelevant factors in admission, financial aid, employment, athletics or any of its educational policies and programs. Questions and comments concerning this policy should be addressed to the Affirmative Action Officer.

Policy Against Harassment
Knox College deplores any harassment based on sex, gender identity or expression, race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation or affectional preference, age, marital status, or disability. Any member of the college community who harasses another is subject to the grievance and disciplinary procedures of the College and such civil and criminal laws as may pertain. The College will use its influence to encourage the entire community to treat its students, faculty, staff and guests in a manner consistent with the principles of this policy.

Harassment includes behavior, speech or writing that demeans or stereotypes individuals in a harmful way. Harassment may create an intimidating, hostile or demeaning environment and often has the effect of interfering with an individual's full and free participation in the life of the College (revised policy adopted June 1993).

Policy Against Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is a form of sexual discrimination and is contrary to the policies of Knox College as well as state and federal laws. Sexual harassment is contrary to the most fundamental ethical canons of the academic community.

The following definition of sexual harassment has been summarized from federal and state laws, specifically Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments 1972, the Human Rights Act provision on sexual harassment in Higher Education, and Chapter 68 of the Illinois Revised Statutes 1991, paragraphs 5A-101(E). Nothing in the summary should be taken to be at variance with federal law or Illinois statutes.

Sexual harassment is understood to be unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal, written or physical conduct of a sexual nature where:

a) submission to or rejection of such behavior is used as the basis of academic or employment decisions, is either an explicit or implicit term of admission to any college program or college related activity, or
b) the conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work or educational environment.

Examples of such conduct may include repeated comments about a person's physical appearance, sexually suggestive remarks or insults; displays of sexually suggestive material, unwelcome advances such as touching, patting, caressing, kissing or sexual propositions and sexual advances accompanied by threat of punishment or promise of reward including the withholding or giving of grades and promotions (revised policy adopted June 1993).

Policy Against Sexual Misconduct
Sexual misconduct refers to non-consensual sexual acts or sexual contact including instances in which the person subjected to the misconduct is incapable of giving consent because of permanent or temporary mental or physical incapacity due to the use of alcohol and/or drugs or for other reasons. Knox College will not tolerate non-consensual sexual acts or sexual contact perpetrated by one college member against another. Accordingly, Knox College affirms its commitment to create and maintain an environment free from acts of sexual misconduct and to foster within that environment respect for the dignity of all members of the community.

To the extent allowable by federal and state laws, information regarding incidents of sexual misconduct will be kept confidential, however the College reserves the right to make announcements to the college community, deleting names of the individuals involved, when there is determined to be a threat to members of the college community. The College must statistically report the occurrence on campus of any of six major violent crimes, including forcible and non-forcible sex offenses as defined by the federal government, in an annual report on campus crime statistics. This statistical report does not include personally identifiable information. When an incident of assault is reported to College officials, an investigation of the incident will follow in which the participation of the individuals involved will be needed, including testimony in any College disciplinary proceedings.

Knox's authority to sanction members of the college community is limited and applies only to the violation of college rules, policies and procedures. Knox is not an arm of civil authority. The legal system of the State of Illinois offers recourse through law enforcement officials and the courts. Legal action to pursue either civil or criminal proceedings may be initiated by contacting the police or the State's Attorney. Students who believe they are the victims of a crime as defined by federal and state laws are encouraged to report to civil authorities (policy adopted June 1993).