Extensive definitions a must

In accordance with federal law, Penn's definition of sexual harassment is twofold. The first definition concerns quid pro quo harassment, which consists of an authority figure demanding a sexual favor that is "directly linked to the individual's terms of employment or academic success." Or, as College sophomore and Women's Week coordinator Sonia Pascal put it, "Have sex with me and get an A. Don't, and fail."

The policy also protects against any unsolicited "sexually based" behavior that can render an environment "intimidating, hostile or offensive."

In addition to these definitions, the Sexual Harassment Handbook provides a list of behaviors that could potentially be considered harassment. Some are fairly standard, such as attempted rape and touching oneself sexually around others. But the list also contains less-obvious behaviors, such as "holding or eating food provocatively" and "blocking someone's path."

Sure, you say, sexual harassment is important. But do we have to give up eating hot dogs and licking popsicles to prevent it? It almost starts to seem ridiculous ... until you keep reading.

According to both Penn's policy and a 2003 statement from the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights, behavior can only be considered harassment if a "reasonable person" would think so under the circumstances of the incident. According to Penn Women's Center Director Ellie DiLapi, "It's about the impact the behavior has," not the behavior itself.

So don't worry. No one is going to haul you in for questioning because your eyes inadvertently meet at 1920 Commons while you happen to be eating a hot dog.

While peer-to-peer incidents are certainly covered by the policy, its most important purpose extends far deeper than overly enthusiastic popsicle eaters and frat boys with wandering eyes.

The policies primarily protect us against such unimaginable situations as intimidating comments from faculty regarding our physical appearance, the threat of an F for refusing requests for sexual favors and, yes, even deliberately suggestive hot dog-eating during office hours.

These incidents may seem unlikely, but the fact that we find them so preposterous doesn't show that our sexual harassment policies are too harsh and extensive. On the contrary -- it shows that they're working.

And for all you free-speech fanatics, fear not. Penn's policy makes it clear that "the University is committed to freedom of thought, discourse and speech."

Additionally, the Department of Education's statement is devoted to asserting that any sexual harassment policies it implements exist only to protect others, not to infringe upon First Amendment rights. Your rights remain protected to the extent that they do not violate anyone else's right to a safe and comfortable environment.

And don't worry about getting expelled as a result of a hysterical complaint with little substance. No one has ever been sanctioned or asked to leave Penn without going through what DiLapi calls a "due process." She promised that if a complaint is filed, both parties will get a chance to tell their story and the University will consider all relevant circumstances before ruling.

The protection that Penn's sexual harassment policies provide is very real and very necessary: A study recently released by the American Association of University Women reported that almost two-thirds of college students have experienced some sort of sexual harassment on campus.

If this is really happening as frequently as the study claims, a detailed policy that forces students and faculty to "play it safe," as opposed to a vague policy that may allow true offenders to go free, is needed.

If it weren't for harassment laws, people like Tracy McIntosh -- the former Penn professor convicted of sexual assault -- might still be teaching.

Eradicating sexual harassment is of vital interest to every university, and Penn is no exception. Relevant policies should be extensive. Their detailed nature isn't intended to get innocent students and faculty in trouble or to make it more difficult to find a date for Saturday night; they are meant to make students' rights absolutely clear so that, one day, we don't need a policy at all.

But until that day comes, it's comforting to know that Penn is as concerned about our right to a safe and comfortable campus as we are.

Liz Hoffman is a sophomore political science major from New York, N.Y. New York Minute appears on Mondays.

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