One of Ohio’s new laws, the CAMPUS Act, goes into effect October 24, 2024, and requires institutions of higher education to, “... adopt and enforce a policy regarding racial and ethnic harassment and intimidation.” The law has specific requirements for training, procedures, reporting and collaboration with law enforcement and campus constituents in appropriate circumstances.
The College’s Civil Rights Policy has been updated to comply with the law. These updates include:
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The addition of the required term intimidation to Section VII.B. of the Policy: Harassment or Intimidation on the Basis of a Protected Characteristic;
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The inclusion of the term intimidation within the definition, “Discriminatory Harassment or Intimidation is any unwanted verbal or physical conduct on the basis of a Protected Characteristic when one or more of the following conditions is present ... ;”
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The addition of ethnicity in the list of protected characteristics noted in the College’s Notice of Non-Discrimination;
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Expanding the membership of the already established civil rights team to ensure compliance with the law’s requirements to combat “antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Christian discrimination, and hatred, harassment, bullying, or violence toward others.”
Any person may make a report of harassment or intimidation or discrimination occurring on the basis of a protected characteristic by submitting this form, which can be completed anonymously or with the inclusion of identifying information.