Victims of sexual harassment have many places to seek help at NIU.

Services are available at NIU to counsel victims of sexual harassment and to aid them in reporting allegations.

A victim of sexual harassment can go to the Ombudsman’s office, the judicial office, the personnel office, a division supervisor, a department chair, a college dean, a faculty member, health service employees or a counselor.

“Having several offices taking complaints helps the problem,” Affirmative Action Director Marilyn Monteiro said.

Monteiro offered advice to any victim who might want to take care of a sexual harassment problem on their own.

“Confront the harasser and let them know what you think harassment is because usually the harasser does not,” she said.

Judicial Office Director Larry Bolles said the judicial office has received three calls of sexual harassment this semester, but only one caller actually filled out a report.

However, this is no surprise, he said.

“Out of ten sexual harassment callers, it would be asking a lot to say that two would come in and fill out a report,” Bolles said. “People as a rule will call but will not file a report.”

Nine cases of sexual harassment were reported to the judicial office last year during the spring semester, he said.

Many cases go unreported because victims are not sure what constitutes sexual harassment.

arassment among employees includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and/or verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

Harassment in the classroom or related programs is defined as behavior that emphasizes the sexuality or sexual identity of another person in a manner that prevents the victim’s full enjoyment of educational opportunities.

Some NIU students have their own beliefs as to why one person would want to sexually harass another.

“People sexually harass to control the victim for their own advantages and to hold some power over them,” said NIU sophomore Jennifer Bryk.

NIU senior Kevin Healy said, “People sexually harass due to their own feelings of inadequacy. If they physically overpower someone then they can justify a position of superiority in their own head.”

For more information, call Affirmative Action at 3-1118.