Definition of Physical and Verbal Harassment
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1. Harassment
No member of the University shall, either on University premises or in the pursuance of a University activity or business, subject any other member to physical or verbal abuse or harassment. Harassment means a vexatious course of conduct or comment which:does not fall under the definition of prohibited grounds harassment, and the actor knows, or ought reasonably to know, creates for that individual, or those individuals, an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or learning environment, and exceeds the bounds of freedom of expression or academic freedom as those are understood in University policies and accepted practices, including but not limited to those explicitly adopted.
2. Harassment of the Basis of the Prohibited Grounds
No member of the University shall, either on University premises or in the pursuance of a University activity or business, subject any other member to physical or verbal abuse or harassment on the basis of the prohibited grounds, as follows:
is directed at one or more specific individuals, andemphasizes a characteristic listed in the prohibited grounds which is possessed by one or more specific individuals, in a manner that the actor knows, or ought reasonably to know, creates for that individual, or those individuals, an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or learning environment, and exceeds the bounds of freedom of expression or academic freedom as those are understood in University policies and accepted practices, including but not limited to those explicitly adopted.
(i) Prohibited grounds physical abuse or harassment means physical conduct that emphasizes a characteristic listed in the prohibited grounds which is possessed by one or more specific individuals in a manner which the actor knows, or ought reasonable to know, creates for that individual, or those individuals, an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or learning environment.
The phrase "prohibited grounds" refers to fundamental personal characteristics which are forbidden as a basis for discrimination under the Human Rights Code of Ontario, as it may be amended from time to time, with the exception of sex and sexual orientation, which are covered by the Policy and Procedures: Sexual Harassment. The relevant characteristics in the Human Rights Code of Ontario currently are: race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, handicap, age, marital status, family status, the receipt of public assistance or record of offence.
June 26, 1992
