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Parent Student Handbook » Harassment, Bullying, Cyber-bullying, Hazing and Retaliation

Harassment, Bullying, Cyber-bullying, Hazing and Retaliation

Harassment, Bullying, Cyber-bullying, Hazing and Retaliation: (See 53A-11a-101, 53A-11a-201, 202, 301.)

No school employee or student may engage in harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, or hazing on school property, at school related or school sponsored events, on a school bus, or while the employee or student is traveling to or from a location or event described here. No school employee or student may engage in hazing or cyber-bullying a school employee or student at any time or location. 
 
Any student or employee that is aware of instances of harassment, bullying, cyber-bullying, or hazing is obligated to report it to a school administrator. 
 
“Harassment” means repeatedly communicating to another individual in an objectively demeaning or disparaging manner, messages that contribute to a hostile learning or work environment for the individual. 
 
“Sexual harassment” is harassment that may include but is not limited to such things as:
  • Suggestive, derogatory or vulgar comments including catcalls and whistling; sexual innuendoes or slurs; unwanted sexual advances or comments; repeatedly asking for dates; making threats; spreading rumors about others as to their sexual activity, orientation, or performance. It also includes behavior such as displays of sexually suggestive objects, pictures, posters, written material, cartoons, drawings, or graffiti of a sexual nature; gesturing, leering or staring.
  • Unwanted physical contact, touching, pinching, kissing, patting or hugging; the blocking of normal movement; stalking; assaulting; and/or the interference with work or study due to an individual’s gender.
  • Threats, demands or pressure to submit to sexual requests in order to maintain standing in the school; or to avoid other loss and/or benefits in return for sexual favors.
                       o “Bullying” means intentionally or knowingly committing an act that: 
  • endangers the physical health or safety of a school employee or student;
  • involves any brutality of a physical nature such as whipping, beating, branding, calisthenics, bruising, electric shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or exposure to the elements;
  • involves consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other substance;
  • involves other physical activity that endangers the physical health and safety of a school employee or student; or
  • involves physically obstructing a school employee's or student's freedom to move; and is done for the purpose of placing a school employee or student in fear of:
                      o physical harm to the school employee or student; or
                      o harm to property of the school employee or student.
    The above conduct constitutes bullying regardless of whether the person against whom it is committed directed, consented to, or acquiesced in the conduct. 

    Cyber-bullying may not disrupt LPA’s environment or functioning. “Cyber-bullying” means using the Internet, a cell phone, or another device to send or post text, video, or an image with the intent or knowledge, or with reckless disregard, that the text, video, or image will hurt, embarrass, or threaten an individual, regardless of whether the individual directed, consented to, or acquiesced in the conduct, or voluntarily accessed the electronic communication. 
 
“Hazing” means intentionally or knowingly committing an act that:
  • endangers the physical health or safety of a school employee or student;
  • involves any brutality of a physical nature such as whipping, beating, branding, calisthenics, bruising, electric shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or exposure to the elements;
  • involves consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other substance;
  • involves other physical activity that endangers the physical health and safety of a school employee or student; or involves physically obstructing a school employee's or student's freedom to move; and 
  • is done for the purpose of initiation or admission into, affiliation with, holding office in, or as a condition for, membership or acceptance, or continued membership or acceptance, in any school or school sponsored team, organization, program, or event; or
  • if the person committing the act against a school employee or student knew that the school employee or student is a member of, or candidate for, membership with a school, or school sponsored team, organization, program, or event to which the person committing the act belongs to or participates in
 
The conduct described here constitutes hazing, regardless of whether the person against whom the conduct is committed directed, consented to, or acquiesced in, the conduct