Policy 3.03: Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation
Mississippi State University
Relevant Excerpt
Harassment is unwelcome conduct based on a protected status that is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent and objectively offensive that it denies or limits, or is likely to deny or limit a reasonable person’s ability to participate in or benefit from University programs, services, opportunities, or activities. Sexual harassment is a type of harassment consisting of unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature.
Harassment can include but is not limited to verbal or non-verbal communication, written or graphic communication, electronic communication, and/or physical conduct. Examples of prohibited harassment may include, but are not limited to (a) repeated and unwanted sexual or romantic solicitations, displaying sexual images in the workplace, or conditioning favorable treatment in connection with a University program upon sexual favors; (b) physical harassment, such as touching, pinching, grabbing, or brushing against another person without their consent; and (c) severe, pervasive, persistent and objectively offensive insults, jokes or derisive comments relating to a person’s protected characteristic.