Definitions

The following definitions shall also be used in institutional policy and in the implementation thereof by all Louisiana public post secondary education institutions as per the Board of Regents:

Actual Knowledge – “Actual knowledge means notice of sexual harassment or allegations of sexual harassment to a recipient’s Title IX Coordinator or any official of the recipient who has authority to institute corrective measures on behalf of the recipient….”  This [actual knowledge] standard is not met when the only official of the recipient with actual knowledge is the respondent.” “The mere ability or obligation to report sexual harassment or to inform a student about how to report sexual harassment, or having been trained to do so, does not qualify an individual as one who has authority to institute corrective measures on behalf of the Recipient.” Any person may report sex discrimination, including sexual harassment (whether or not the person reporting is the person alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sex discrimination or sexual harassment).

Complainant – “an individual who is alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sexual harassment”.

Coercion is the use of express or implied threats, intimidation, or physical force which places an individual in fear of immediate harm or physical injury or causes a person to engage in unwelcome sexual activity. Coercion also includes administering a drug, intoxicant, or similar substance with the intent to impair that person’s ability to Consent prior to engaging in sexual activity.

Consent: Consent to engage in sexual activity must exist from beginning to end of each instance of sexual activity. Consent is demonstrated through mutually understandable words and/or actions that clearly indicate a willingness to engage in a specific sexual activity. Silence alone, without actions evidencing permission, does not demonstrate Consent.  Consent must be knowing and voluntary. To give Consent, a person must be of legal age. Assent does not constitute Consent if obtained through Coercion or from an individual whom the Alleged Offender knows or reasonably should know is incapacitated.  The responsibility of obtaining Consent rests with the person initiating sexual activity. Use of alcohol or drugs does not diminish one’s responsibility to obtain Consent.  Consent to engage in sexual activity may be withdrawn by any person at any time. Once withdrawal of Consent has been expressed, the sexual activity must cease. Consent is automatically withdrawn by a person who is no longer capable of giving Consent.  A current or previous consensual dating or sexual relationship between the persons involved does not itself imply Consent or preclude a finding of responsibility.

Formal Complaint – A document filed by a complainant or signed by the Title IX Coordinator alleging sexual harassment against a respondent and requesting that the recipient investigate the allegation of sexual harassment.  At the time of filing a formal complaint, a complainant must be participating in or attempting to participate in the education program or activity of the recipient with which the formal complaint is filed.  The formal complaint may be filed with the Title IX Coordinator in person, by mail, or by electronic mail.

Incapacitation An individual is considered to be incapacitated if, by reason of mental or physical condition, the individual is manifestly unable to make a knowing and deliberate choice to engage in sexual activity. Being drunk or intoxicated can lead to Incapacitation; however, someone who is drunk or intoxicated is not necessarily incapacitated, as Incapacitation is a state beyond drunkenness or intoxication. Individuals who are asleep, unresponsive or unconscious are incapacitated. Other indicators that an individual may be Incapacitated include, but are not limited to, inability to communicate coherently, inability to dress/undress without assistance, inability to walk without assistance, slurred speech, loss of coordination, vomiting, or inability to perform other physical or cognitive tasks without assistance.

Perpetrator – An individual found guilty of sexual misconduct.

Program or Activity – Education program or activity” includes locations, events, or circumstances over which the recipient exercised substantial control over both the respondent and the context in which the sexual harassment occurs, and also includes any building owned or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized by a postsecondary institution.

Respondent – an individual who has been reported to be the perpetrator of conduct that could constitute sexual harassment.

Retaliation – Acts or attempted acts for the purpose of interfering with any report, investigation, or proceeding under this Policy, or as retribution or revenge against anyone who has reported Sexual Misconduct or Relationship Violence or who has participated (or is expected to participate) in any manner in an investigation, or proceeding under this Policy. Prohibited retaliatory acts include, but are not limited to, intimidation, threats, coercion, or discrimination. Title IX prohibits Retaliation.  For purposes of this Policy, an attempt requires a substantial step towards committing a violation.

Sexual Harassment:

1. Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the recipient’s education program or activity.
2. When submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of a person’s employment or education.
3. When submission to or rejection of such conduct by a person is used as the basis for a decision affecting that person’s employment or education.
4. When such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with a person’s employment or education, or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive employment or educational environment, and has no legitimate relationship to the subject matter of a course or academic research.
5. Sexual assault  as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)(v) and by Louisiana State Law.  An offense that meets the definition of rape, fondling, incest, or statutory rape as used in the FBI’s UCR program.
   1. Non-Consensual Sexual Intercourse: Having or attempting to have sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, or fellatio without Consent. Sexual intercourse is defined as anal or vaginal penetration by a penis, tongue, finger, or inanimate object.
   2. Non-Consensual Sexual Contact: Any intentional sexual touching, or attempted sexual touching, without Consent.
6. Dating Violence as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(10).
   1. Clery Act:  Violence, including but not limited to sexual or physical abuse or the threat of such abuse, committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the Alleged Complainant. The existence of such a relationship will be determined based on a consideration of the length and type of relationship and the frequency of interaction.
   2. Louisiana Law:   “Dating violence” includes but is not limited to physical or sexual abuse and any offense against the person as defined in the Criminal Code of Louisiana, except negligent injury and defamation, committed by one dating partner against the other.  La. RS § 46.2151(C)  For purposes of this Section, “dating partner” means any person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the complainant and where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following factors:
      1. The length of the relationship.
      2. The type of relationship.
      3. The frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
7. Domestic Violence as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(8).  Violence, including but not limited to sexual or physical abuse or the threat of such abuse, committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner or any other person from whom the Alleged Complainant is protected under federal or Louisiana law.  Felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed:
   1. By a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the complainant;
   2. By a person with whom the complainant shares a child in common;
   3. By a person who is cohabitating with, or has cohabitated with, the complainant as a spouse or intimate partner;
   4. By a person similarly situated to a spouse of the complainant under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred; or
   5. By any other person against an adult or youth complainant who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred.
8. Stalking as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(30) and La. RS § 14:40.2(A).  Intentional and repeated following OR harassing that would cause a reasonable person to feel alarmed OR that would cause a reasonable person to suffer emotional distress OR 2.Intentional and repeated uninvited presence at another person’s: home, work place, school, or any other place which would cause a reasonable person to be alarmed OR would cause a reasonable person to suffer emotional distress as a result of verbal or behaviorally implied threats of death, bodily injury, sexual assault, kidnapping or any other statutory criminal act to the complainant OR any member of the complainant’s family OR any person with whom the complainant is acquainted.
9. Sexual Harassment also includes non-sexual harassment or discrimination of a person because of the person’s sex and/or gender, including harassment based on the person’s nonconformity with gender stereotypes. For purposes of this Policy, the various forms of prohibited Sexual Harassment are referred to as “sexual misconduct.
10.  Sexual Exploitation: An act attempted or committed by a person for sexual gratification, financial gain, or other advancements through the abuse or exploitation of another person’s sexuality. Examples of sexual exploitation include, but are not limited to, non-consensual observation of individuals who are undressed or engaging in sexual acts, non-consensual audio- or videotaping of sexual activity, prostituting another person, allowing others to observe a personal consensual sexual act without the knowledge or consent of all involved parties, and knowingly exposing an individual to a sexually transmitted infection without that individual’s knowledge.
11. Family violence as defined by Louisiana law: means any assault, battery, or other physical abuse which occurs between family or household members, who reside together or who formerly resided together. La. RS § 46.2121.1(2)
12. Sexually Oriented Criminal Offense: Any sexual assault offense as defined in La. R.S. 44:51 and any sexual abuse offense as defined in R.S. 14:403
13. Domestic abuse as defined by Louisiana law: Includes but is not limited to physical or sexual abuse and any offense against the person as defined in the Criminal Code of Louisiana, except negligent injury and defamation, committed by one family or household member against another.  La. RS 46:2132(3)
14.  “Harassing” – the repeated pattern of verbal communications or nonverbal behavior without invitation which includes but is not limited to making telephone calls, transmitting electronic mail, sending messages via a third party, or sending letters or pictures.  “Pattern of conduct” means a series of acts over a period of time, however short, evidencing an intent to inflict a continuity of emotional distress upon the person.  Constitutionally protected activity is not included within the meaning of pattern of conduct.  La. RS § 14:40.2(C)
15. Sexual misconduct – a sexual act or contact of a sexual nature that occurs, regardless of personal relationship, without the consent of the other person(s), or that occurs when the person(s) is unable to give consent or whose consent is coerced or obtained in a fraudulent manner.  For the purpose of this Policy, sexual misconduct includes, but is not limited to, sexual assault, sexual abuse, violence of a sexual nature, sexual harassment, non-consensual sexual intercourse, sexual exploitation, video voyeurism, contact of a sexual nature with an object, or the obtaining, posting or disclosure of intimate descriptions, photos, or videos without the express consent of the persons depicted therein, as well as dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking.

Supportive Measures – individualized services reasonably available that are non punitive, non disciplinary, and not unreasonably burdensome to the other party while designed to ensure equal educational access, protect safety, or deter sexual harassment.

Victim – an individual who, after all due investigation and/or adjudication, has been found to be the target of sexual misconduct.