Drew University Library http://www.drew.edu/library

All persons in the Library are to be accorded courtesy and respect at all times.

PHYSICAL OR VERBAL ABUSE

Definitions:

  1. PHYSICAL ABUSE is defined as touching, pushing, striking or otherwise assaulting the person of another individual against his or her will.
  2. VERBAL ABUSE is defined as discourteous, disrespectful, or insulting language or sounds which may (or may not) be loud, and which may (or may not) convey threats to injure another individual physically.
  3. RAPE is a distinctly different situation; see section entitled Rape in this manual.
  4. SEXUAL HARASSMENT is a distinctly different situation; see final paragraphs of this section.

If anyone in the Library (patron or staff member) is physically or verbally abused by anyone else in the Library (patron or staff member):

  1. Staff members, including student workers, experiencing verbal abuse should contact their supervisor immediately.
  2. Call Public Safety (4444) to request assistance. State your name, exact location (Rose Library or Learning Center, level and room number), and explain to the dispatcher what has happened. Tell the dispatcher if the victim requires medical assistance.
  3. Notify the Library Human Resource Administrator (3471) of the action you have taken.
  4. Notify the Circulation unit (3486) of the action you have taken.
  5. If a library staff member is involved in the incident, notify his/her supervisor and the Dean of Libraries.
  6. Try to keep the victim calm until assistance arrives, and ask for his/her name. Try to persuade the victim to stay until Public Safety arrives. However, do not try to restrain the victim if s/he insists on leaving. If the victim decides to leave, it would help Public Safety if you can establish where s/he can be contacted.
  7. The safety officer will take charge of the victim after s/he arrives; please offer your assistance.
  8. If a student has initiated the harassment, Public Safety will notify the Dean for Educational and Student Affairs. If a staff member has initiated the harassment, the Director of the Library will notify Human Resources.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL ASSAULT

Sexual harassment/assault of or by a UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEE is explicitly governed by UNIVERSITY HUMAN RESOURCES POLICY # 806 .

Sexual harassment of or by a LIBRARY PATRON WHO IS NOT A UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEE shall be dealt with according to the procedures outlined above under PHYSICAL OR VERBAL ABUSE.

For procedures dealing with victims of sexual assault, see section entitled RAPE in this manual.

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