Sexual Harassment and assault can happen at any college, and knowing what do you do if it happens to you is important.
Sexual harassment is harassment involving the making of unwanted sexual advances or obscene remarks. It includes, but is not limited to, sexual advances or discussions, repeated date requests, sexual images, sexual gestures, stalking, domestic and dating violence, and sexual assault.
Sexual harassment in higher education is illegal, no matter the position of the culprit. Under the Illinois Human Rights Act, it is unlawful for teachers, professors, faculty members, and other employees of colleges and universities to sexually harass their students.
Title IX protects students from sexual assault, sexual harassment, and stalking on campus grounds, and gender based violence between men, women, transgender people, and gender nonconforming persons.
Even though sexual harassment is a very difficult topic to discuss, The City Colleges of Chicago have resources to help. Going to www.ccc.edu/services allows a student to file a complaint. The student then has 180 days to file after the incident, even if the semester is over.
The following resources are available to all CCC students: The Office of Safety and Security, The Dean of Student Services, and the Title IX Coordinator at the District Office.
If students feel comfortable with sharing their stories on social media, Tarana Burke, an activist, spearheaded a hashtag called #MeToo for people to share their stories of sexual assault, abuse, and exploitation. This has become a way for victims to connect and support each other through a common incident.
According to CNN, the hashtag has been used 825,000 times since Oct. 15 on Twitter, and in less than 24 hours more than 12 million Facebook posts, comments, and reactions have had people engaging in ‘Me Too’ conversations.
Sexual Harassment and assault are very difficult topics for anyone to discuss, but also know that you are not alone.