New York Employment Attorneys Blog

In 1992 playwright David Mamet shocked and surprised theatergoers with the premiere of his play, Oleanna. Now, as the play returns to Broadway after 17 years, a new production is set to reignite the discussion and debate stemming from the intense and emotional play.

The play centers around two individuals, a professor and one of his students. Through the course of the play, the student accuses her professor of sexual harassment and abuse of his power of his role as a professor.

This groundbreaking work came at a time when America was dealing with the fallout of the Anita Hill case in Washington, DC, extending the debate to the stage. However new then, sexual harassment remains a constant problem in our society, showing how far we still need to work to overcome it.

For a limited time, the Broadway play will feature a "talkback" series, inviting prominent sexual harassment lawyers, HR professionals, politicians and business figures to discuss the role of sexual harassment in the workplace with audiences. This stands to be an enlightening and stimulating opportunity for all that wish to join in the conversation.

Check out a video from The Harman Firm below on college sexual harassment:

In recent years, much has been done to raise awareness of sexual harassment in the workplace, and how to go about identifying and reporting such behavior. However, this practice still affects scores of workers, with more and more individuals reporting sexual harassment in an academic setting.
According to the AAUW, over two thirds of college students have experienced some form of sexual harassment, while staggeringly few of these individuals come forward and report such activity. The sexual harassment seen on college campuses is not greatly different in the ways in which it is manifested- name calling, inappropriate touching, threats. Rather it is the situating of individuals around a college that leads to differences in how it is viewed and treated.
In recent years, sexual harassment carried out by teachers and professors has been under greater scrutiny by watch groups. Professors who have been accused of harassment have often taken advantage of the position of power they occupy over students, leaving the student vulnerable. As well, professors spend a considerable amount of time alone with students in their work. Concerns over appearances, as well as grades have led many individuals to not report harassment that occurs on campus.
As well, sexual harassment may occur between students, or students working on campus. The nature of campus social life, filled with the omnipresence of alcohol affords many opportunities for sexual harassment. Like in instances with professors, students are often afraid to report sexual harassment due to social ostracism, and fear of retaliation.
It is crucial to raise awareness of sexual harassment on college campuses across the country. In doing so, many individuals can come forward with their experiences and to seek justice.