Written by Kaleb Turner<\/p>\n
Conversation regarding language in the 2018-19 Student Handbook sparked over the weekend surrounding the \u201cTitle IX and Sexual Harassment\u201d section on page 45, which states that sexual harassment includes \u201cthe actual coercing of sexual relations to the unwelcome or inappropriate emphasizing of sexual identity.\u201d<\/p>\n
The language was called into question by alumni and students on social media. HU Queer Press 2.0, an independent, non-Harding-sanctioned organization seeking to bring awareness to LGBTQ issues on Harding\u2019s campus, also joined the conversation by condemning the language with a response on their website and claiming it as a \u201cnew addition\u201d to the 2018-19 handbook.<\/p>\n
According to Zach Neal, dean of students, the language is not new and has been in the handbook for at least 18 years. The goal of the language and the university, Neal said, is to protect all students.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe intent is to communicate that no students, staff or faculty are allowed to coerce you into physical sexual acts nor are they to say or do anything that highlights or taunts your sexual identity,\u201d Neal said. \u201cThe harassment of any student will not be tolerated.\u201d<\/p>\n
Senior Karena Barlow took to social media to share her frustrations with the handbook language by sharing a post from HU Queer Press 2.0. Barlow said in an interview with The Bison she feels the language used could cause LGBTQ students at Harding to feel unsafe if they chose to express their sexual identity.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if you\u2019re not in a relationship and you\u2019re not sexually active, it feels like they could kick you out just for saying that you\u2019re LGBT, and I don\u2019t think that\u2019s right,\u201d Barlow said.<\/p>\n
Though Barlow said she believes the handbook language should be changed regardless, she added that she may have not interpreted the language as it was intended to be read.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it were to say, \u2018Emphasizing somebody else\u2019s sexual identity,\u2019 that would make a lot of sense. It would make sense why it is where it is,\u201d Barlow said. \u201cI think if Harding did mean it that way, they should come out and say, \u2018Hey, this is poorly phrased, let\u2019s work to fix it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Neal did not comment on whether or not the university would make changes to the language called into question. He encourages any students who have been sexually harassed to report the behavior to a Student Life dean or Public Safety.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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