Bullying can foster a climate of fear and disrespect which seriously impairs the physical and psychological health of its victims and creates conditions that negatively affect any learning and working environment. With the proliferation of the use of electronic means of communication, bullying has transformed from a predominately school-based issue among youth to a broader societal problem affecting both youth and adults. Researchers have demonstrated that bullying has long-term consequences, particularly since bullying has now moved beyond the classroom to the Internet, athletic teams, college campuses, work places, and among the general public.
Cyber-bullying has been shown to cause significant psychological trauma to its victims. Victims suffer very real and serious harm as a result of these incidents, often showing signs of depression, anxiety, social isolation, nervousness when interacting with technology, low selfesteem, declining school and work performance, hyper-vigilance, nightmares, changed eating and sleeping habits, and fear for their safety. In extreme cases, victims attempt or commit suicide due to the cyberbullying they have endured.
Policy Statement
Corning Community College (“the College”) is committed to maintaining an educational and work environment in which every member of the College community conducts himself/herself in a manner which demonstrates proper regard and respect for the rights and welfare of others so that everyone, including students, employees, and visitors, is treated with respect and dignity. The intended purpose of this Anti-Bullying Policy is to educate the College community about bullying and promote civility and respect among all its members. This policy applies to all members of the campus community, individuals doing business with the College, and any persons utilizing campus facilities.
Summary
Bullying is strictly prohibited on any College property; at any College function, event or activity; or through the use of any electronic or digital technology, whether or not such use occurs on College property. Any case of bullying suspected to be of a criminal nature will be referred to local law enforcement authorities.
A procedure for handling complaints under this policy has been established and is available on the College website, in the College catalog, and from the Human Resources Office.
Definitions
- Bullying: aggressive and hostile acts of an individual or group of individuals which are intended to humiliate, mentally or physically injure or intimidate, and/or control another individual or group of individuals. Bullying can occur as a single, severe incident or repeated incidents.
- Physical Bullying: pushing, shoving, kicking, poking, and/or tripping another; assaulting or threatening a physical assault; damaging a person’s work area or personal property; and/or damaging or destroying a person’s work product.
- Verbal/Written Bullying: includes ridiculing, insulting or maligning an individual, either verbally or in writing; addressing abusive, threatening, derogatory or offensive remarks to an individual; and/or attempting to exploit an individual’s known intellectual or physical vulnerabilities.
- Nonverbal Bullying: includes making direct threatening gestures toward an individual or invading personal space after being asked to move or step away.
- Cyberbullying: the bullying of an individual using any electronic form, including, but not limited to, the Internet, interactive and digital technologies, or mobile phones.
- Racist Bullying: racial taunts, graffiti or gestures; and/or a refusal to work with another individual because they are of a different culture.
- Sexual Bullying: unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments.
- Homophobic, Gender, and Sexual Orientation Bullying: bullying which is usually aimed at gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people or those with gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender relatives/friends; and/or the use of generic insults relating to gender and/or sexual orientation.
- Stalking: continued unwanted attention through: personal contact (directly with and individual or through the individual’s friends and family); telephone calls; letters; e-mails; text messages; Internet chat rooms; and other means.
Bullying does not include the following circumstances:
- A supervisor or any person with supervisory authority reports and/or documents an employee’s unsatisfactory job performance and the potential consequences of such unsatisfactory performance; or
- A faculty or staff member advises a student of unsatisfactory academic work and the potential for the course failure or dismissal from the program; or
- A faculty or staff member advises a student of inappropriate behavior that may result in disciplinary proceedings.