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Resources for Building a Harassment-Free Campus
The Building a Harassment-Free Campus initiative reaffirms AAUW’s commitment to connecting to women and girls in education at all levels. This commitment is reflected in the work of our Educational Foundation, Legal Advocacy Fund, and Leadership and Training Institute, as well as in our communications and public policy work. Listed below are AAUW resources and selected links to other tools that may be useful to anyone seeking to build a harassment-free campus.
American Association of University Women
Educational Foundation Research
Legal Advocacy Fund
Leadership and Training Institute
- Strategies for Talking about Sexual Harassment – Key considerations for beginning discussions on a potentially sensitive topic. (PDF)
Communications
- Grassroots Media Tips – An overview of the opportunities, challenges, and methods of gaining media exposure for your cause. (PDF)
- Online Press Kit – View materials from the January 24, 2006 national press conference on Drawing the Line.
- AAUW Media Guide – An excellent tool that allows you to easily identify your local and national media organizations, journalists and reporters. (Media)
Public Policy and Government Relations
- Issue Advocacy is about being knowledgeable about important issues and aware of the current status of key legislation.
Additional Resources
There are five different project types in the Building a Harassment-Free Campus initiative, reflecting different but related strategies for addressing the issue of sexual harassment on campus. The following resources were selected to assist CAP teams and others interested in building a harassment-free campus.
Assessing Campus Policies
- National Center for Higher Education Risk Management – NCHERM publishes papers on campus issues and in 2001 and 2005 addressed the topic of campus sexual harassment. Several other publications available free on the website can provide guidance on developing or evaluating campus judicial policies and processes. Learn more about NCHERM.
- Stand Up - A Campaign to End Sexual Harassment and Domestic Violence – Inspired by the film North Country, AAUW is a partner to this action program. The website includes resources on implementing a sexual harassment policy at your school/campus. Learn more about Stand Up.
- Security on Campus – A non-profit organization, founded by parents of a Lehigh University student who was attacked and murdered in her dorm room in 1986, and whose mission is to help make college campuses safer for students. Learn more about Security on Campus.
- Questions and Answers about Informal Resolution – A brief summary of the informal review process at the University of California, Davis campus. This may be used as a guide for creating a review process for your own campus or for evaluating the existing one. (Q&A)
Creating Campus Dialogue
- Business and Legal Reports – The resource offers a host of products for companies and organizations – there are several booklets and brochures for sale at low prices, including Stamp out Sexual Harassment on Your Campus.
- Online Ethics Center at Case Western Reserve University – A Student’s Experience of Sexual Harassment, a student’s recollection of sexual harassment. This story could be used to elicit discussion among students, faculty and administrators about how institutional structures might play a role in silencing victims of sexual harassment.
- Fostering Intergroup Dialogue on Campus: Essential Ingredients – This brief document from the DiverstyWeb describes some of the tenets of effective intergroup dialogue and how to model campus conversations between groups. The document is somewhat geared towards groups discussing race/ethnic issues but the points are relevant to anyone interested in facilitating dialogue. Learn more about Fostering Intergroup Dialogue.
- Films – The following films address sexual harassment in two very different settings but highlight many of the complexities in responding to harassment. These films may be used to promote discussion and illicit responses on how to address instances of harassment.
- Oleanna (1994) – Written and directed by David Mamet and starring Wiliam H. Macy. The story takes place on a college campus and centers on conflict between a professor and a female student.
- North Country (2005) - Directed by Niki Caro and starring Charlize Theron. Movie is inspired by a true story of the first class action sexual harassment lawsuit.
- One America in the 21st Century – The Dialogue Guide offers tips and techniques to foster discussions within a diverse, democratic community in which we respect, even celebrate our differences, while embracing the shared values that unite us. It was derived from President Clinton's 1997 One America in the 21st Century: The President’s Initiative on Race, but is a useful tool for anyone interested in facilitating dialogue on any topic among diverse participants. Learn more about One America in the 21st Century.
Communications and Media
- Business and Legal Reports – The resource offers a host of products for companies and organizations – there are several booklets and brochures for sale at low prices, including Stamp out Sexual Harassment on Your Campus.
- Bernice Sandler – A nationally recognized expert on sexual harassment who has written extensively on sexual harassment and discrimination, her website includes links to publications and strategies for addressing harassment in schools and college campuses. Learn more about Bernice Sandler.
Examining Student Experiences
- Online Ethics Center at Case Western Reserve University – A Student’s Experience of Sexual Harassment, a student’s recollection of sexual harassment. This story could be used to elicit discussion among students, faculty and administrators about how institutional structures might play a role in silencing victims of sexual harassment.
Developing Web-based Tools
- SurveyShare Resource Center – Allows members to design and conduct online surveys on secure servers. Non-members also have limited access to some of the services, but special membership rates are available for educational and non-profit organizations. Learn more about SurveyShare.
- Web Survey Guide – Hosted by the Department of Sociology at the University of Surrey, United Kingdom, the guide offers information and practical advice on conducting web surveys, identifies common problems and pitfalls, and advice on how to avoid them. Learn more about Web Survey Guide.
- National Sexual Assault Online Hotline – The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) will be launching the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline this spring, which will be the very first secure hotline anywhere on the web. The Online Hotline will provide live, secure and confidential help to victims 24 hours a day. Learn more about National Sexual Assault Online Hotline.
Questions? Call AAUW's Leadership and Training Institute at 202/785-7741 or send an e-mail to lti@aauw.org.
