Any incidence of sexual harassment or assault is taken very seriously by the university. Sexual harassment and assault can be defined as gender-related verbal or physical conduct that takes place under any of the following circumstances:

• There is a threat that submission to or rejection of the conduct will affect a person's grade or other type of evaluation or recommendation;
• The behavior interferes with the victim's academic or work performance, or creates an intimidating hostile, offensive or otherwise adverse learning or work environment;
• The behavior interferes with the victim's social relationships, or creates an intimidating, hostile, offensive, or otherwise adverse social environment.

Behavior such as the following is considered sexual harassment:

• Ssubtle or blatant pressure for sexual activity;
• Persistent sexually explicit or sexist statements or stories;
• Frequent jokes of a sexual nature;
• Repeated leering or staring at a person's body;
• Unwanted hugging, patting, kissing, brushing up against someone's body or other inappropriate sexual touching;
• Suggestive or obscene notes or phone calls;
• The display of sexually explicit pictures or cartoons.

Any student who becomes a victim of sexual assault or harassment, whether from an acquaintance or a stranger, is encouraged to report the incident to a Dean, faculty, staff, administrator or the Counseling Center. These individuals can assist the student in making contact with an Ombudsman. There are several local agencies, including the LSU Counseling Center, available to help and support such a crisis. Any student found guilty of sexual assault or harassment against another student will be dealt with by the university and face possible prosecution in criminal court.