Collegiate Times

There are many things about America's school system that amaze me.

 The one that I find most impressive, however, is the mind-boggling way in which administrators, teachers and counselors can so quickly blow things out of proportion.

Perhaps these people have been brainwashed by too many sensitivity classes, or maybe they've never chatted with anyone under the age of 10, but one of the lofty goals of faculty across the nation is to rid the kindergarten world of supposed "sexual harassment."

Now, I'm not talking about abusive teachers or tutors who cross the line. I'm talking about six-year-olds who are written up for sexual harassment for "putting two fingers into the back waistband of a female classmate's pants" (for the record, she had poked him first).

You may think that is just an extreme case, but how about the 12 and 13-year-olds from Oregon? Two boys were thrown in a jail cell for six days for participating in "Slap Butt Day," in which many kids (girls included) went around slapping each other's butts and dancing next to each other. Even according to the girls who had been slapped, the boys' jailing was unnecessary - they thought the boys were funny and not offensive in the least.

Although obviously in poor taste and most likely against the behavior policy, the administration went a bit far when they called in the police to have the young boys arrested and strip-searched.

Many assume that the sensationalizing of sexual harassment occurs mainly among younger students because of a few overbearing and dramatic faculty members and teachers. I myself would like to think that by college, frivolous claims and over-dramatic accusations would be discouraged. Again, that is not the case.

According to the American Association of University Women (AAUA), things such as "Free Hug Day," which was hosted on our campus last month, would likely be banned because it encourages sexual harassment.

According to the AAUA, two-thirds of undergraduates have been sexually harassed. An epidemic of proportions like this should become the primary focus of all administrators, faculty and counselors on campuses nationwide. Thankfully for all of us, the statistic means a little less when you actually look at the AAUA's definition of sexual harassment.

 Sexual harassment, under AAUA guidelines, includes unwanted "sexual comments, jokes, gestures, or looks." This can include someone "blocking someone else's way" with sexual undertones. It also includes mooning and flashing which, although distasteful, often happens among college students without malicious intent.

If the AAUA has their way at universities, we will have to be careful about every joke we make, lest we be labeled a "sexual harasser." In fact, anything that makes anyone uncomfortable will provide legitimate grounds for someone to file a claim. Because broad policies like these are impossible to enforce and even harder to keep track of, people will be at the mercy of their accuser and the wonderful university judicial system. Good thing it's fair, right?

You may think that such policies are far from being established at a university such as Virginia Tech. Students at Gettysburg College had similar thoughts before such policies were incorporated at their school.

According to their student handbook, in order to avoid sexual harassment, all contact of a sexual nature must be consented upon, which is "the act of willingly and verbally agreeing to engage in specific sexual conduct." For administrators at Gettysburg, sexual content includes brushing, patting, kissing and hugging.

Perhaps I haven't taken enough sensitivity training, but for some reason I find it ridiculous that someone has to ask to hug another person.

Sexual harassment - I should specify that I mean real sexual harassment - is an ongoing problem at most universities. Instituting these trivial policies only serves to minimize the struggle of the real victims of real sexual harassment.

Instead of focusing on catching children running around on playgrounds poking and hugging people, or the drunken college guys and girls mooning and flashing people, I suggest we focus on the education and prevention of the more damaging problems that result from true sexual harassment.

That being said, if you think you have been a victim of sexual violence, Tech has many resources and understanding people all willing to help. There are ways to anonymously report violence, in addition to Tech's new "SafeWatch" program, which can help you report claims about all types of harassment.