14.2. Definitions of Prohibited Conduct & Related Definitions

The following definitions describe prohibited conduct subject to this Title IX policy.

14.2.1 Sexual Harassment:

Conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following; (a) Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to University educational programs or activities; (b) An employee of the University conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the University on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct; (c) Sexual assault as defined below.

For purposes of this policy and Title IX regulations, any prohibited conduct in this Section 14.2 may also be considered or referred to as sexual harassment generally.

14.2.2 Sexual Assault:

Any sexual act directed against another person, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent.

14.2.2.1 Rape:

The carnal knowledge of a person, forcibly and/or against that person’s will or not forcibly or against the person’s will in instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity

14.2.2.2 Forcible Sodomy:

Oral or anal sexual intercourse with another person, forcibly and/or against that person’s will or not forcibly or against the person’s will in instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her youth or because of his/her temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity.

14.2.2.3 Sexual Assault with An Object:

To use an object or instrument to unlawfully penetrate, however slightly, the genital or anal opening of the body of another person, forcibly and/or against that person’s will or not forcibly or against the person’s will in instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her youth or because of his/her temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity.

14.2.2.4 Forcible Fondling:

The touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, forcibly and/or against that person’s will or not forcibly or against the person’s will in instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her youth or because of his/her temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity.

14.2.3 Sexual Assault, Non-forcible:

Unlawful, nonforcible sexual intercourse.

14.2.3.1 Incest:

Nonforcible sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law. 

14.2.3.1 Statutory Rape:

Nonforcible sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent.

14.2.4 Dating Violence:

Violence committed by a person (a) who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim; and (b) where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following factors: (i) The length of the relationship. (ii) The type of relationship. (iii) The frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.

14.2.5 Domestic Violence:

Includes felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction receiving grant monies, or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction.

14.2.6 Stalking:

Engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to (a) fear for his or her safety or the safety of others; or (b) suffer substantial emotional distress.

The following are definitions of related terms:

14.2.7 Economic Abuse:

in the context of domestic violence [and] dating violence means behavior that is coercive, deceptive, or unreasonably controls or restrains a person’s ability to acquire, use, or maintain economic resources to which they are entitled, including using coercion, fraud, or manipulation to:

  • restrict a person’s access to money, assets, credit, or financial information;
  • unfairly use a person’s personal economic resources, including money, assets, and credit, for one’s own advantage; or
  • exert undue influence over a person’s financial and economic behavior or decisions, including forcing default on joint or other financial obligations, exploiting powers of attorney, guardianship, or conservatorship, or failing or neglecting to act in the best interests of a person to whom one has a fiduciary duty.

14.2.8 Technological Abuse

means an act or pattern of behavior that occurs within domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence or stalking and is intended to harm, threaten, intimidate, control, stalk, harass, impersonate, exploit, extort, or monitor, except as otherwise permitted by law, another person, that occurs using any form of technology, including but not limited to: internet enabled devices, online spaces and platforms, computers, mobile devices, cameras and imaging programs, apps, location tracking devices, or communication technologies, or any other emerging technologies.

 

The following are definitions of related terms:

14.2.9 Consent:

Clear, informed, unambiguous, mutual and voluntary agreement that must be given by participants in order to engage in sexual activity. Consent must be actively, not passively, given and may be revoked at any time. Neither a prior relationship nor silence is a sufficient indication of consent. A person who is asleep, drugged, intoxicated, or unconscious may not give consent. A minor or a person whose capacity or ability to provide informed consent is impaired may not give consent. Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs does not diminish one’s responsibility to obtain consent. The mere fact of a current or previous consensual dating or sexual relationship between the two parties does not itself imply consent or preclude a finding of sexual harassment.

In determining a violation of policy and determining whether consent was given, the following will also be considered: (a) “Force” is the use or threat of physical violence to overcome an individual’s freedom of will to choose whether or not to participate in sexual activity or provide consent. Consent obtained by force is not valid. (b) “Intimidation” is the use of implied threats to overcome an individual’s freedom of will to choose whether or not to participate in sexual activity or provide consent. Consent obtained by intimidation is not valid. (c) “Coercion” is the improper use of pressure to compel another individual to initiate or continue sexual activity against that individual’s will. Consent obtained through coercion is not valid. Coercion can include a wide range of behaviors, including intimidation, manipulation, threats, and blackmail. A person’s words or conduct are sufficient to constitute coercion if they wrongfully impair another individual’s freedom of will and ability to choose whether or not to engage in sexual activity. Examples of coercion include, but are not limited to, threatening to “out” someone based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression and threatening to harm oneself if the other party does not engage in the sexual activity. When someone indicates, verbally or physically, that they do not want to engage in a particular sexual activity, that they want to stop a particular activity, or that they do not want to go past a certain point of sexual interaction, continued activity or pressure to continue beyond that point can be coercive. The University will evaluate the following in determining whether coercion was used: (a) the frequency of the application of pressure, (b) the intensity of the pressure, (c) the degree of isolation of the person being pressured, and (d) the duration of the pressure.