Sexual Harassment: Libraries Advisory Committee on Workplace Issues: MIT Libraries

MIT Libraries

Libraries Advisory Committee on Workplace Issues

What to do about Sexual Harassment

What is it?

How do I get help?

MIT Libraries Resources Other MIT Resources

Harassment of any kind is considered unacceptable at MIT.

MIT defines harassment as the following:

"Harassment is any conduct, verbal or physical, on or off campus, that has the intent or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual or group's educational or work performance at MIT or that creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational, work or living environment. Some kinds of harassment are prohibited by civil laws or by MIT policies on conflict of interest and nondiscrimination.

Harassment on the basis of race, color, gender, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or age includes harassment of an individual in terms of a stereotyped group characteristic, or because of that person's identification with a particular group."

What is sexual harassment?

"Sexual harassment may take many forms. Sexual assault and requests for sexual favors that affect educational or employment decisions constitute sexual harassment. However, sexual harassment may also consist of unwanted physical contact, requests for sexual favors, visual displays of degrading sexual images, sexually suggestive conduct, or offensive remarks of a sexual nature."

(MIT Policies and Procedures:Policy on Harassment)
_________________

"You are the only one who can define what makes you uncomfortable or intimidated. It doesn't matter whether the harasser's intentions were good or not, or whether others don't consider it a problem. You have the right to work and study in an environment free from harassment."

(from Fight Back!!! An Underground Guide to Fighting Sexual Harassment, published by the MIT Graduate Student Council)

If you feel you may be the target of sexual harassment, you can choose from many options, among them:

Seek information or direction from a member of the Advisory Committee on Workplace Issues.
Tell the harasser that his/her behavior is unwelcome.
Seek advice from your supervisor, department head or a member of the Libraries Steering Committee.
Contact the Libraries' staff members with central responsibilities for personnel matters:
-Jim Mullins, Rm. 14S-312, jmullins@mit.edu, 3-7059 or
-Robin Deadrick, Rm. 14S-216, rmdead@mit.edu, 3-9322
Talk to a friend.
Call Campus Police (3-1212 or DIAL 100 for emergency).
See the list of resources below.

If you go to any of the MIT resources listed above or below, you may choose to take any (non-family, non-attorney) member of the MIT community along with you. These resources are also available to those against whom complaints have been brought.

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The MIT Libraries Advisory Committee on Workplace Issues

The role of individual members of this committee is to serve as confidential resource persons for members of the Libraries staff seeking information or advice about situations which may involve sexual (or other) harassment. Their primary goal is to help direct staff members to the appropriate places for assistance. You may choose to go through a committee member or not.

The Institute offers a number of resources which can be used directly by all staff and students. Detailed information about these MIT resources is contained in Dealing with Harassment at MIT, copies of which are available from the Office of the Director of Public Relations (Room 3-207). Committee members have this guide as well as other MIT publications on the topic.

Libraries staff should be aware that their obligation to serve patrons does not extend to tolerance of harassing behavior of any sort.

LACWI Committee Members

Libraries Steering Committee

Ann J. Wolpert 3-5297 Director of Libraries Rm. 14S-216, awolpert@mit.edu

Carol J. Fleishauer 3-5962
Associate Director for Collection Services
Rm. 14S-216, fleish@mit.edu

Steven Gass 3-7058
Associate Director for Public Services
Rm. 14S-216, sgass@mit.edu

MacKenzie Smith 3-8184
Associate Director for Technology
Rm. 14S-216 kenzie@mit.edu

Jim Mullins 3-7059
Associate Director for Administration
Rm. 14S-312, jmullins@mit.edu

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OTHER MIT RESOURCES

Campus Police General 3-1212 Emergency Dial 100

Medical Department
24-hour Emergency Care 3-1311
Mental Health/Social Work Services 3-2916
Personal Assistance Program 3-4911

Personnel Office
Libraries Human Resources Officer
Jennifer Walsh, 3-4275

Health Education Services 3-1316

MIT Ombuds Office
Room 10-213, 3-5921

Kelvin H. Chin, M.A., J.D.
Ombudsperson
khchin@mit.edu

Toni P. Robinson, M.S., J.D.
Ombudsperson
trobins@mit.edu

Mary P. Rowe, Ph.D.
Ombudsperson, Special Assistant to the President,
Adjunct Professor - Sloan School of Management
mrowe@mit.edu

MIT Chaplains, W-11
See a complete list at http://web.mit.edu/dsl/religious_life.html

GABLES (for staff), Rm. 14E-432, gables@mit.edu
(Gay, Bisexual & Lesbian Employees & Supporters)
Contact Line 252-1014

GAMIT (for students), 50-306
(Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals & Friends at MIT)
Contact Line 3-5440, gamit@mit.edu

Gay and Lesbian Helpline
M-F 6-11 PM, S-S 5-10 PM
Phone 617-267-9001

Nightline (for students: 7 pm - 7 am) 3-8800

Sexual Violence Resources

For a more complete listing, see Dealing with Harassment at MIT. General complaint procedures are described in MIT Policy & Procedures Section 9.6,
Complaint and Grievance Procedures.

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Information Provided by: MIT Libraries Advisory Committee on Workplace Issues
Office of the Director
Room 14S-216

Email list:

lacwi@mit.edu

last edited May 5, 2003
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