4.1.3.4.4) What should I do if I experience some form of harassment at King Hall, sexual or otherwise?
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This article is from the King Hall Law School FAQ, by David F. Prenatt, Jr. NetEsq@dcn.davis.ca.us with numerous contributions by others.
4.1.3.4.4) What should I do if I experience some form of harassment at King Hall, sexual or otherwise?
Depending upon the seriousness of the situation, you should file a
grievance with the administration at King Hall. I experienced
harassment myself at King Hall, sexual and otherwise, and I learned
that even the nicest people can sometimes be very vicious. In most
instances, I was able to resolve it informally. I simply confided in
someone whom I knew I could trust about what I was experiencing
(preferably someone in a position of authority who could later be used
as a mediator if necessary) and steered clear of the perpetrator until
he or she offered me an apology or explanation (or until he or she
started treating me with respect and consideration). Avoiding a
perpetrator, however, is not always a viable option in a small, close-
knit community like King Hall, and a formal grievance may be in order.
Just as important as what to do when you experience some form of
harassment is how to conduct yourself if you are accused of being a
perpetrator. Unfortunately, one person's good clean fun or harmless
flirtation is another person's harassment. If you find out that you
have done anything to offend anyone at King Hall, even if it is just a
misunderstanding, you should apologize IMMEDIATELY to that person and
avoid him or her from that point forward.
The people whom I have met at King Hall are typically very
forgiving. In most instances, they will appreciate a courteous
apology and extend an olive branch to you once they have cooled off.
Depending upon the seriousness of the situation, however, you should
also consider seeking legal advice. Whether or not you think that you
have done anything wrong, law school types can be very litigious.
My experience with both perpetrators and victims of harassment
who have confided in me has led me to believe that there is no
reliable method of divining who is telling the truth. Liars can be
very convincing (more so than honest people), and you certainly cannot
trust the many rumors that abound because most people (law students
included) have an insatiable appetite for vicious gossip. The more
that people talk about a situation involving some form of harassment,
the more lurid and convoluted the rumors get. Many innocent people
are falsely accused (a form of harassment itself), and many actual
victims of harassment are not believed (which adds insult to injury);
sometimes the roles of victim and perpetrator are even reversed in the
retelling. Worse yet, many perpetrators get away with harassment when
there is no doubt about what actually happened (i.e., the victim is
blamed for inviting or creating a situation or for overreacting).
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