UWF Wants To Make It Okay to Harass LGBTQ+ Students

A change proposed to the University of West Florida Student Code of Conduct appears to make it okay to sexually harass LGBTQ+ students and faculty.

• The code changes were to be discussed during the Student Affairs Committee meeting on August 14, but the meeting was canceled last August 13. Instead, Dr. Mary Anderson, Interim Vice President of the Division of Academic Engagement and Student Affairs, has proposed the changes without holding a public meeting. See Notice.

Short Time Frame

People must submit their concerns within 14 days of the notice, dated August 20, to the Office of General Counsel. The University may then solicit additional written comments, schedule a public hearing, withdraw or modify the proposal, in whole or in part. Or the University may proceed with adopting the amendment.

• Concerns can be sent to: Office of the General Counsel, 11000 University Parkway, Building 10, Pensacola, Florida 32514, or gcfrontdesk@uwf.edu

Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity No Longer a Basis

The University of West Florida administration wants to redefine sexual harassment in its Student Code of Conduct, stating that it is unwelcome conduct on the basis of sex. The new definition deletes references to unwelcome conduct based on gender, sexual orientation or gender identity. It adds that the unwelcome conduct must be “as defined and prohibited by applicable federal and state law. See Harassment

The conduct must no longer be “sufficiently severe or pervasive so that it alters the terms and conditions of the Complainant’s employment or educational environment.”

• The new definition states the conduct must be “so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive so that is unreasonably denies the Complainant equal access to the University’s education program or activity.”

Targeting Queer Community

Students have reached out to Inweekly.

• One wrote, “I am by far most concerned about the changes to the definition of sexual harassment, especially as a member of the queer community. As (Education) Commissioner, President Diaz told schools to ignore federal Title IX policies protecting LGTBQ students (https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/29/us/florida-title-ix-guidance-education-commissioner). Weakening and removing language that protects students like me from harassment follows a pattern in the behavior of several people now in power at UWF.”

The full text of the proposed amendment and existing regulation is also posted on UWF’s website: https://uwf.edu/offices/board-of-trustees/regulations/

Note: The notice comes under consideration at the same time UWF fired the head of the Stamped Film Festival and vice president of Sunday’s Child.