Preventing Sexual Harassment

By law, Brigham Young University is obligated to protect its students from gender discrimination, including unlawful sexual harassment, in all programs and activities sponsored by the university. As you embark on your internship, please be aware of what constitutes sexual harassment and what you should do if you encounter it during your internship opportunity.

Definition
Examples
Appropriate Response

Definition

Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when submission to the conduct is made a term or condition of an individual’s employment, or submission to or rejection of the conduct by an individual is used as a basis for employment decisions affecting the individual, or the conduct interferes with an individual’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.

Examples

Behaviors that contribute to a hostile environment include, but are not limited to:
  • discussing sexual activities
  • telling off-color jokes
  • unnecessary touching
  • commenting on physical attributes
  • displaying sexually suggestive pictures
  • using crude language or demeaning or inappropriate terms
  • using indecent gestures
  • engaging in hostile physical conduct

Appropriate Response

Both employers and employees have a responsibility to prevent and stop workplace harassment. If you experience harassment while participating in a BYU-sponsored internship, report the behavior to your editing internship coordinator and your internship provider. They will take appropriate action to address and correct the behavior. You may also contact the university's equal opportunity manager or 24-hour hotline at

Equal Opportunity Manager
Brigham Young University
Telephone: (801) 422-5895
Email: sue_demartini@byu.edu

24-hour hotline: 1 (888) 238-1062