CASE STUDY - LINDA
Linda was a graduate student in Zoology at a local university. To gain practical experience, she
applied for and got a job with the Ministry of Forests. She reported to Dale, a wildlife biologist
and an adjunct professor at the same university.
Linda was asked to coordinate a survey project of forest birds in a remote location. Dale drove
Linda to the location to begin her work. The first day, they drove for about 6 hours stopping for
the night in a small town. When they stopped, Linda waited in the car while Dale made
arrangements for the night. They did not discuss the arrangements. Dale rented one room with
two beds. Linda did not voice any objections to the arrangement.
After dinner and a walk, Linda and Dale returned to their room where Linda began to read. Dale
had a shower and began to watch television sitting on his bed. Linda moved to his bed so that
she could watch the news on television without her contact lenses. At that point, Dale embraced
Linda and kissed her. After some time, she asked him to stop, which he did. They remained on
his bed where she fell asleep. Prior to her falling asleep, he asked her if she found him attractive
and she replied “yes.” Sometime during the night, he began to caress her again and they had sex.
Dale remained and worked with Linda for about three weeks. The working relationship between
Linda and Dale became unpleasant. Linda would yell at Dale and she was quick to burst into
tears. After he left, they spoke several times on the telephone. He told her that he would be able
to get her funding for her Master’s thesis. Subsequently, she phoned another professor and told
him that she did not want Dale involved with her thesis.
Linda also contacted the sexual harassment officer at her university and filed a complaint against
Dale.
1. Is this a complaint of sexual harassment? What are the issues in the complaint to
determine if this is a complaint of harassment?
2. What were the legal responsibilities of Dale and the Ministry of Forests in preventing
the harassment?
3. If you were a member of the human rights panel, what compensation would you
provide to Linda, if there was found to be harassment?
Samy Consulting Sept/03