The Offenses section of the Washington University in St Judicial Code clearly prohibits:
“Sexual contact with any member of the university community or visitor to the university without that person’s consent, including, but not limited to, rape and other forms of sexual assault. Conduct will be considered ‘without consent’ if no clear consent, verbal or non-verbal is given; if inflicted through force, threat of force, or coercion; or if inflicted upon a person who is unconscious or who otherwise would appear to a reasonable observer to be without the mental or physical capacity to consent. For example, sexual contact with a person who would appear to a reasonable observer to be impaired in the exercise of his or her judgment by alcohol or other drugs may be considered ‘without consent’.”
Students engaging in such conduct are subject to disciplinary action through the Wash U judicial system. Cases of sexual assault are handled through the University Sexual Assault Investigative Board (USAIB).
Sexual harassment
Wash U has adapted the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) definition of sexual harassment for an academic community: it is defined as any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favor or other unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, including sexual violence, whether committed on or off campus, when:
- submission to such conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of an individual’s employment or academic advancement;
- submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis or threatened to be used as the basis for employment or academic decisions or assessments affecting an individual; or
- such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or educational performance or creating an intimidating or hostile environment for work or learning. Such conduct will typically be directed against a particular individual or individuals and will either be abusive or severely humiliating or will persist despite the objection of the person targeted by the speech or conduct.
You can learn more by reading the full sexual harassment policy, which also contains information on procedure for reporting or making a complaint of sexual harassment. The harassment policy pertains to all members of the university community.