social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature means a relationship
which is characterized by the expectation of affection or sexual
involvement between the parties. The existence of such a relationship
shall be determined based on the reporting party’s statement and with
consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of relationship,
and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the
relationship. Dating violence can be a single event or a pattern of behavior
that includes, but is not limited to, sexual or physical abuse or the threat
of such abuse. Dating violence does not include acts covered under the
definition of domestic violence.
•
Domestic Violence is a felony or misdemeanor crime of violence
committed: (i) by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the
victim; (ii) by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common; (iii)
by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as
a spouse or intimate partner; (iv) by a person similarly situated to a spouse
of the victim under the law of the Commonwealth of Virginia; or (v) by any
other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that
person’s acts under the domestic or family laws of the Commonwealth of
Virginia. Domestic violence can be a single event or a pattern of behavior
that includes, but is not limited to, sexual or physical abuse.
• S talking is engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific
person that would cause a “reasonable person” (a person under similar
circumstances and with similar identity to the victim) to: (i) fear for his
or her safety or the safety of others; or (ii) suffer substantial emotional
distress, meaning significant mental suffering or anguish that may, but
does not necessarily, require medical or other professional treatment or
counseling. A “course of conduct” means two or more acts, including,
but not limited to, acts in which the stalker directly, indirectly, or through
third parties, by any action, method, device, or means, follows, monitors,
observes, surveils, threatens, or communicates to or about a person, or
interferes with a person’s property.
SAME SEX HARASSMENT
The Discrimination Policy also covers harassment of individuals of the same
sex. Additionally, if you are the target of harassment because of your sexual
orientation, you may use the Discrimination Policy to make a complaint.
TEACHING ASSISTANTS:
The following comments address some of the especially tricky areas for
Teaching Assistants in the area of sexual harassment.
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