2008 Woodie Awards
Survey reveals few sexual harassment incidents on campus
By Amy Kelly
Rocket News Editor
Issue date: 3/23/07 Section: News
A recently completed SRU Sexual Harassment Survey, where 1,334 students responded, reveals that a relatively small percentage of students have experienced signs of sexual harassment by campus faculty members.
The survey was an electronically guided study administered at the beginning of the fall semester.
Of the 1,334 students surveyed, approximately 25 percent were male. Roughly 15 percent of SRU freshmen and seniors participated, as did 9 to 10 percent of sophomores and juniors.
StudentVoice, an organization that helps guide the assessment curriculum of many institutions by administering surveys, distributed it through SRU students' campus e-mail.
The SRU Campus Climate Committee, a subcommittee of the presidential commission on the status of women, developed a survey to help the faculty and administration assess the students' awareness of sexual harassment on campus.
Campus Climate Committee member and assistant director of diversity and employee training, Sandra Stevenson, said there is a need for increased awareness of sexual harassment.
"Even one is one too many with sexual harassment," she said. "The office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity is where students and faculty can come to get help with sexual harassment."
The results show that the university doubled the education efforts compared to previous years where a greater percentage.
"People go to the closest person to them to share problems they are having," Stevenson said. "Students or the faculty members that students go to should know where to go to take action and get help."
The survey showed that students recognize eight forms of sexual harassment, with 96 percent identifying "sexual bribery," defined as explicit sexual propositions implying promises of good grades or other favorable treatment in return for sexual favors, but a much lower number, 34 percent, identifying 34 "undue attention," or verbal expressions of sexual interest but short of propositions, as sexual harassment.
"The good news is that students know what constitutes as sexual harassment," said Carlis White, assistant professor of history and a former Campus Climate Committee member. "The bad news is that sexual harassment is occurring on campus."
The greatest percentage of students have received sexist comments from faculty with 1.83 percent at many times a year; 2.75 percent at several times; 12.84 percent at only a few times; 7.61 percent only once and most responded with never.
The survey was an electronically guided study administered at the beginning of the fall semester.
Of the 1,334 students surveyed, approximately 25 percent were male. Roughly 15 percent of SRU freshmen and seniors participated, as did 9 to 10 percent of sophomores and juniors.
StudentVoice, an organization that helps guide the assessment curriculum of many institutions by administering surveys, distributed it through SRU students' campus e-mail.
The SRU Campus Climate Committee, a subcommittee of the presidential commission on the status of women, developed a survey to help the faculty and administration assess the students' awareness of sexual harassment on campus.
Campus Climate Committee member and assistant director of diversity and employee training, Sandra Stevenson, said there is a need for increased awareness of sexual harassment.
"Even one is one too many with sexual harassment," she said. "The office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity is where students and faculty can come to get help with sexual harassment."
The results show that the university doubled the education efforts compared to previous years where a greater percentage.
"People go to the closest person to them to share problems they are having," Stevenson said. "Students or the faculty members that students go to should know where to go to take action and get help."
The survey showed that students recognize eight forms of sexual harassment, with 96 percent identifying "sexual bribery," defined as explicit sexual propositions implying promises of good grades or other favorable treatment in return for sexual favors, but a much lower number, 34 percent, identifying 34 "undue attention," or verbal expressions of sexual interest but short of propositions, as sexual harassment.
"The good news is that students know what constitutes as sexual harassment," said Carlis White, assistant professor of history and a former Campus Climate Committee member. "The bad news is that sexual harassment is occurring on campus."
The greatest percentage of students have received sexist comments from faculty with 1.83 percent at many times a year; 2.75 percent at several times; 12.84 percent at only a few times; 7.61 percent only once and most responded with never.
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