When you name an offense on the Offenses tab of the Incident Log, you must complete a worksheet that describes details about the offense. On certain offense worksheets, you must also indicate applicable protected classes.
Protected Class Definitions
Ancestry: This is very similar to one’s national origin. This refers to one’s “roots.” Example: I am Okinawan/Japanese, so my ancestry is Okinawa and Japan.
Color: Traditionally this meant black or white. But now, conduct based on the color of a person’s skin, no matter the variation of color it is, can be discrimination.
Disability: Also includes someone who has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.
National Origin: Where a person or their family is from. Example: I was born and raised in the United States, so my national origin is the US. A student was born and raised in China, but recently moved to the state. The student’s national origin is China.
Race: A person’s ethnicity: Black/African American, White/Caucasian, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.
Religion: Includes harassing and bullying conduct that is based on religious attire worn by the student, e.g., a female student being teased because she is wearing traditional religious head dress.
Retaliation: An adverse action against an employee, volunteer, and/or student because they engaged in protected activity. Protected activity includes, but is not limited to, filing a complaint of discrimination, harassment, or bullying; participating in a complaint or investigation proceeding dealing with discrimination, harassment, or bullying; or inquiring about rights. An adverse action is any action that would dissuade a reasonable person from making or supporting a complaint.
Sex (including Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression): Sex based harassment means unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual Orientation is a person's emotional, romantic, and sexual attraction, to individuals of the same sex or of a different sex. Gender identity (including transgender) is a person's actual or perceived gender regardless of whether the gender identity is different from that traditionally associated with the person's sex at birth. Gender Expression is the manner in which a person represents or expresses gender to others.