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Relevant Excerpt

Discriminatory Harassment is defined as verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct or communication based upon a person's protected status, including race, color, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, gender identity, marital status, familial status, pregnancy, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, and status with regard to public assistance, or other status protected by applicable law, when: ... such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially and unreasonably interfering with an individual's employment or education, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive employment or educational environment ("hostile environment" harassment).

Hostile environment harassment exists when the conduct is sufficiently severe, pervasive/persistent, and clearly/objectively offensive that it alters the conditions of education or employment.

Examples of harassment include, but are not limited to:

• Verbal abuse, offensive language, derogatory words, slurs, or epithets based upon or motivated by the person's protected class status.
• Threats or intimidation based upon or motivated by the person's protected class status.
• Negative stereotyping based upon or motivated by the person's protected class status.
• Jokes and comments directed at a protected class status.
• Gossip about someone's protected class status.
• Obscene gestures or leering based upon or motivated by the person's protected class status.
• Written or graphic materials or objects, pictures, or other media placed on or circulated within College premises (walls, bulletin boards, computer terminals, vehicles, email, text messages, etc.) that are offensive, insulting, or demeaning or show hostility or aversion toward an individual or group based on or motivated by a person's protected class status.
• Cyber or electronic harassment based on or motivated by a person's protected class status.

The College recognizes the complexity of defining language and actions that are not acceptable in a community which values freedom of expression. Freedom of expression does not include the right to intentionally and maliciously aggravate, intimidate, ridicule or humiliate another person.