Commentary:
Harassment prohibited by this policy includes verbal or physical conduct that, because of its severity and/or persistence, substantially interferes with the mutual respect and collegiality afforded all individuals at Berea College. In particular, harassment may include verbal or physical behavior directed at an individual that is abusive of that individual’s distinguishing characteristics, including race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin, to such an extent as to substantially interfere with the individual’s work or education or adversely affect one’s living conditions.
In prohibiting harassment in all its forms, Berea seeks to preserve and enhance academic freedom for all members of the campus community. Nothing in this policy is intended to limit the freedom of inquiry, teaching, or learning necessary to the College’s educational purposes, or to inhibit scholarly, scientific, or artistic treatment of subject matter appropriate to an institution of higher education.