Not all cases of sexual harassment in the workplace are vulgar or even obvious, said two faculty members Monday. Harassment can also involve whistling or sending flowers.

Carla Espinoza, director of the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Office, spoke with Eveadean Myers, associate director of the same office, Monday in the Gallery Room of the Memorial Union. Both women mediated a discussion on sexual harassment prevention, using personal stories and informal discussion to lead the dialogue.

Espinoza said she handled a case of sexual harassment in which an engaged woman was sent numerous flowers on a daily basis. She reminded the audience that things don’t have to be vulgar to cause action to be necessary, just unwanted. All events that cause someone to feel harassed should be taken very seriously and acted upon immediately, she said.

One of the biggest challenges faced by the presenters in their attempt to educate students and employees is the historical belief that sexual harassment is a gender conflict of man versus woman and is entirely dependent on physical attraction.

“Sexual harassment is about power – not about sex, not about seduction, it’s about power,” Espinoza said. “Those who make attempts at seduction are usually in a position of little power and are trying to feel better about their insecurity.”

Another extremely misunderstood and legally contended aspect of sexual harassment revolves around perception, Myers said. What is harmless to one can be very offensive to another if unsolicited and persistent in occurrence.

Legally, the courts look at what would be offensive to the reasonable woman of our society, but it’s all in the eyes of the beholder as to what is actually sexual harassment.

Whatever makes a person uncomfortable can be construed as sexual harassment, Espinoza said. Images on dorm room walls or public computers can be considered visual harassment. Love letters, catcalls and even whistles can be considered verbal harassment, if repeated excessively.

The most severe instance in which the university or court will intervene is if harassment called a “quid pro quo” is made. This is when someone in authority offers a bribe or threat to coerce a student into a date or sexual favor. This only needs to happen once for the authorities to step in with discipline.

Myers strongly urges students to report harassment immediately after it happens. The university may decline to pursue a claim about something that happened 180 days ago, but has the most success when fewer than 30 days have passed. By the time a student reports to the Department of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, it is usually the fifth or sixth offense.

“There is no group of individuals who feel like they have no power than students,” Myers said.

“They have a great deal of trouble coming forward and usually wait far too long for fear of repercussions or of not being believed.”

Julie Snyder-Yuly, graduate student in interdisciplinary graduate studies, said the lecture was very informative.

“I got a really good explanation of all the resources available to ISU students,” Snyder-Yuly said.