Harassment

Butler University is committed to maintaining a respectful educational environment, free from harassment. Harassment of any kind is not acceptable behavior at Butler; it is inconsistent with the commitment to excellence that characterizes Butler University’s activities.

Several policies address civil rights matters involving students, faculty and staff when a complaint is brought to the attention of the University. Behaviors covered in these policies include sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, and forms of harassment based on federally protected categories. Resources, information and policy statements are located on the following University websites:

Other Forms of Harassment

Alleged harassment occurring between students, other than what is described in policies noted above, may result in referral to the University student conduct system. In addition, those who engage in harassing behavior may be subject to criminal prosecution under appropriate federal, state, or municipal law. Action taken by the University through the above named policies and/or the University’s student conduct process does not preclude the pursuit of criminal or civil action.

Behaviors that would be considered harassment (not including gender based discrimination) include, but are not limited to:

  1. Any verbal or physical behavior, such as disparaging comments, epithets, slurs, or expressive behaviors, that is directed at a particular person or group of persons, and which creates an offensive or hostile environment or one which creates an environment wherein the verbal or physical behavior is inherently likely to provoke a violent reaction whether or not it actually does so. Harassment may take the form of:
    • Name calling
    • Notes
    • Invasion of a reasonable expectation of privacy
    • Obscene messages/images sent through social media and/or digital communication and/or on voice mail
    • Signs
    • Slurs
    • Jokes that demean an individual or group
  2. Behavior by any student that materially disrupts another’s educational pursuits or educational process, invades the rights of others, or otherwise disrupts the regular and essential operation of the University. In enforcing the above, the University may subject a student’s speech or conduct to reasonable and nondiscriminatory time, place, and manner restrictions which are narrowly tailored and which leave open ample alternative means of communication.
  3. Behavior of any kind that interferes with or involves an expressed or implied threat to interfere with an individual’s personal safety, personal possessions, residence, academic efforts, employment or participation in University-sponsored functions and causes that person to have a reasonable apprehension that such harm is about to occur.

Participation in a campus demonstration is governed by the Campus Demonstrations and Free Speech Policy.