Sexual Harassment Brochure (PDF)
Title IX Rights and Responsibilities (PDF)
Title IX in the Classroom: Your Role as an Educator
Graduate Students and Sexual Harassment
The demands and pressures of graduate school can make addressing sexual and gender-based harassment seem especially challenging for graduate students. Relationships formed during graduate study are vital to students’ professional futures, and networks of expertise are often tight-knit. Professional ties are so important that students often fear that “rocking the boat” might negatively impact their future careers.
To address this concern, graduate students at Brown are not only protected by the sexual and gender-based harassment policy, but also by the University’s prohibition on retaliation. Under Brown’s policy, “retaliation includes maliciously and purposefully interfering with, threatening, or damaging the academic and/or professional career of another individual before, during or after the investigation and resolution of a report of Prohibited Conduct.”
If you have experienced or witnessed an event that is making it difficult for you to continue your training, research, or teaching at Brown, there are a number of university resources to assist you in figuring out a course of action that will preserve your academic and professional goals.
Resources to help you understand your options:
These individuals can discuss the options available to you as a graduate student at Brown, and help you figure out what to do next.
SHARE Advocates (Elliot Ruggles and Alana Sacks), Sexual Harassment and Assault Resources and Education, SHARE@brown.edu, 401-863-2794, 3rd Floor of Health Services, (Confidential)*.
Felicia I Salinas-Moniz, Director of the Sarah Doyle Women’s Center for Women and Gender (SDWC) and Vice President of Campus Life & Student Services, 401-863-1781, felicia_salinas@brown.edu, Box 1829, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912-1829, Uni
Ruthy Rosenberg, University Ombudsperson, ombuds@brown.edu, 401-863-6145, 3rd Floor of Hillel Building, (Not Confidential).
Ebony Manning, Title IX Coordinator, responsible for all Title IX cases, titleixoffice@brown.edu, 401-863-2026, Horace Mann 305, (Not Confidential)**.
*A select group of Brown employees have confidentiality. They cannot reveal identifiable information shared with them to anyone without permission from the individual or as required by law. You are encouraged to inquire about an individual’s reporting responsibilities to better understand what can remain between the two of you and what must be reported to the Title IX Office.
**It is possible to have a conversation with the Title IX Program Officer regarding the University’s policies and procedures without making either a report or a formal complaint.
Resources to Assist You in Moving Forward with the Complaint Process
These individuals can both help you understand your options and work with you in making a complaint. Each individual is responsible for certain groups within the university, but all are equally equipped to assist you. It is your choice whom to contact. These resources are not confidential.
Ebony Manning, Title IX Coordinator, responsible for all Title IX cases, titleixoffice@brown.edu, 401-863-2026, Horace Mann 305, (Not Confidential)**
Deputy Title IX Coordinators:
Rowan McKenna, Administrative Coordinator for Equity & Diversity, Title IX and Gender Equity, (401) 863-5140, Horace Mann 304, rowan_mckenna@brown.edu.
Maria Suarez, Associate Dean of Student Support, responsible for graduate student cases, 401-863-1802, Maria_Suarez@brown.edu.
Wendy J. McRae-Owoeye, Senior Director of Diversity & Inclusion, responsible for staff cases, 401-863- 1787, Wendy_McRae-Owoeye@brown.edu.
Defining Sexual Harassment
Sexual Harassment is any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or other unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, whether verbal, non- verbal, graphic, physical, electronic, or otherwise, when one or more of the following conditions are present:
(i) Submission to or rejection of such conduct is either an explicit or implicit term or condition of, or is used as the basis for decisions affecting, an individual’s employment or advancement in employment, evaluation of academic work or advancement in an academic program, or basis for participation in any aspect of a Brown University program or activity (quid pro quo); and/or
(ii) Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s learning, working, or living environment; in other words, it is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent as to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive learning, working, or living environment under both an objective and subjective standard (hostile environment).
Gender-Based Harassment includes harassment based on sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, which may include acts of intimidation or hostility, whether verbal or non-verbal, graphic, physical, or otherwise, even if the acts do not involve conduct of a sexual nature.
Additional Resources and Infomation
Brown has both a 24-hour sexual assault hotline and a mental health crisis hotline, should you need to speak to someone in an emergency.
Sexual Assault Response Line
401-863-6000
Available through the CAPS on-call system. Confidential crisis support and information is available for any Brown student dealing with sexual assault. The on-call counselor is also available to accompany a victim to the hospital. (Confidential).
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
401-863-3476
Clinicians provide confidential crisis support, follow-up appointments, and 24-hour on-call services for any Brown student dealing with sexual harassment. Located at J Walter Wilson, Room 512. Regular hours Monday through Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm. After hours, press 1 to speak with the on-call clinician. (Confidential).
Office of the Chaplain’s & Religious Life
401-863-2344
The Chaplains are available for personal counseling and support. Call to make an appointment. Located in J Walter Wilson, Room 410. (Confidential).
Brown Univ. Department of Public Safety
401-863-3322
You may also direct any complaints to the Department of Public Safety.
Training
Training on sexual and gender-based harassment as well as Brown’s policies and resources are available to all Brown students, staff, and faculty. If you would like to set up a training for your department, lab, or other group, please contact Rene Davis, 401-863-2386, titleixoffice@brown.edu.