1. Harassment is any kind of behavior towards a person which impairs their full enjoyment of the benefits, climate or opportunities of the Elsworth Cooperative House and the MSU SHC. This definition includes sexual harassment. Harassment may include (but is not limited to):
a. malicious remarks or behavior toward another person. This could include:
1) discriminatory behavior – for example, when harassment is in an active form such as pinching, caressing, touching, vandalism, etc.
2) discriminatory verbal or written insults including, but not limited to, discriminatory, offensive, or obscene remarks. For example, the writing or speaking of derogatory names or comments that refer to an individual’s race, creed, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
b. explicit verbal threats where an individual’s personal safety is put in jeopardy by the language of another. For example, “I will hit you if…” “You had better… or else…” “If you do not do what I say, I will hurt you”.
c. physical intimidation, including manipulative or otherwise inappropriate behavior. Intimidation includes offensive advances (e.g. sexual proposition) or inappropriate behavior (e.g. touching, kissing, caressing). This includes action with or without threat of punishment for non-compliance and with or without the promise of reward for compliance.
d. unreasonable invasion of a person’s privacy, including taking photos, recording video or audio, or otherwise gathering personal information without warning or consent with full disclosure.
e. any act of vandalism towards a person or their property.
f. assault, including any type of physical violence.
2. Any member, guest, or employee who feels that he or she is being harassed by another member, guest, or employee of MSU SHC has the option and right to utilize the following procedures to ameliorate the situation.
3. The complainant may bring the details of the harassment to the Meeting Facilitator and Membership Officer and have a meeting including the parties of the Meeting Facilitator, the Membership Officer, the alleged victim, and the alleged perpetrator.
4. The alleged victim may approach the alleged perpetrator and discuss the problem with that individual.
5. The two parties of the complaint may choose a mediator, of which both approve, to facilitate a meeting between the alleged victim and the alleged perpetrator. If this is not possible, the SHC Vice-President of Membership will mediate or appoint a mediator. This can include the selection of a mediator from outside of the organization.
6. The allegation is documented with the SHC Vice-President of Membership. This documentation is to be confidential and the SHC Vice-President of Membership is the only person to have access to this information.
7. The alleged perpetrator of harassment is to be given a period of time to adjust his or her behavior. The time is to be determined by the parties that attend the meetings discussed in this Article.
8. If the alleged perpetrator adjusts his or her behavior within the allotted time, with the satisfaction of the alleged victim, then the case is closed with documentation remaining on file.
9. If the alleged perpetrator does not adjust his or her behavior within the allotted time, according to the alleged victim, then the alleged victim may:
a. bring the alleged harassment complaint to the House Membership Officer and have a meeting, including the parties of the Meeting Facilitator, the Membership Officer, the alleged victim, and the alleged perpetrator.
b. approach the alleged perpetrator to discuss the problem.
c. agree with the alleged perpetrator on the selection of a mediator to facilitate a meeting between the alleged victim and the alleged perpetrator.
10. The actions of the alleged perpetrator are to be documented with the SHC Vice-President of Membership a second time. This documentation is to be confidential and only the SHC Vice-President of Membership is to have access to these files.
11. After this second allegation, the House must have a meeting within one week, with the option of having the SHC Vice-President of Membership facilitate.
12. Both the accuser and the accused have the option to appeal to the SHC Membership Committee.
13. Sanctions against the alleged perpetrator will either be fines or evictions, taking into consideration the outcome of the SHC and House meetings or the private meetings of the parties to the complaint.