In 2008, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received close to 14,000 charges of sexual harassment. That number is nothing to sneeze at, but when you take into consideration that the EEOC also estimates that only 5 to 15 percent of people who are sexually harassed come forward with their complaints, it’s safe to say that the issue is a serious one and that’s exactly what has Diane Clark up in arms.

“Sexual harassment amongst women is a lot worse than people think. People think things have changed but they haven’t,” she says.

To enact the change she wants to see, Clark is on a mission to start a non-profit organization where she can put people who are being harassed in contact with the resources they need, from legal representation to their state police.

“For me this is about changing things and making life easier for other women,” she said. “Women shouldn’t have to worry about going to work having some man hanging over them.”

That’s not to say that only men will be able to turn to this would-be organization. Although sexual harassment is more common among women and it is the example she uses most often, Clark said she sees it as a problem across the board.

“This is happening in high schools, this is happening in colleges, this is happening in the workplace. This will be for anyone that is sexually harassed; any age, any sex – none of that matters,” she said.

Part of the challenge for establishments signing on to a strong anti-harassment code of conduct is that there doesn’t seem to be a lot of room for interpretation.

“The line is any point where a person feels uncomfortable. People should know what’s right and what’s not right,” says Clark.

Considering the fact that most sexual harassers are male (only 8 percent of men have reported encountering harassment to the EEOC), Clark equates that knowledge to how a man would like his mother or daughter to be treated.

“They think of their mothers and daughters in a different category but they have to ask, ‘how would I feel if a man talked to my mother or daughter this way?” she says.

Clark’s passion is evident, likely because the cause hits close to home. She first became a victim of sexual harassment in college by a professor who, she explains, plead guilty to seven counts of sexual assault and was asked to leave the school. Now, years, later after, seeing sexual harassment time and again, Clark says something needs to be done. The decision comes in the wake of her being fired from an upscale men’s store in the MGM Grand, which is owned by Foxwoods Resort and Casino.

Prior to her termination, Clark says she was harassed by a male manager who would make lewd jokes and sexual references to the female employees. When she approached human resources, she says she was given the run around and before she knew it was being written up for multiple infractions.

“They would change rules and not tell me,” she said, recalling the write-ups that she considers bogus. “This went on and on and on.”

Her manager soon found out she was attempting to file a complaint and the harassment continued. It came to a point that Clark could no longer handle the stress.

“This went on to the point I ended up in the hospital for two days – they thought I was having a heart attack,” she said.

Though Clark had never struggled with anxiety before, she says that is what doctors attributed her heart attack-like symptoms to. Just days after her hospitalization, she was fired. Another female employee of the company was also fired and Clark believes both cases can be tracked to their complaints of harassment by superiors. That’s only two examples though, and she agrees that many women in the situation – or men for that matter – are afraid to come forward.

“There are no jobs out there right now so women are petrified of losing their jobs. I think they convince themselves it’s okay because they need to keep their jobs,” she said.

Since the facility is located on a Native American reservation, it has a system of courts that is independent of Rhode Island state courts so taking legal action is difficult.

“No lawyer would take my case because it was on their reservation in their courts so they know they can’t win,” Clark said.

Representatives from Foxwoods could not be reached for comment.

During college when Clark first encountered sexual harassment, she approached the state police for help and was wired in order to retrieve audio evidence to support her case. While she cannot talk specifics on the case due to legal issues, she said the state police were wonderful and did their best to help her through a difficult time.

“They were incredible,” she said, adding that her own experiences are what prompted her to want to connect victims of harassment to law enforcement officials. If word gets out that an organization is putting the power back in the hands of the victim and those individuals could potentially be wired, Clark hopes harassers might think twice.

Right now they have no fear of getting caught. It’s not going to stop every [harasser], but it will stop some,” she said.

Wiretapping is legal in Rhode Island, where the state’s highest court has found that conversations can be recorded with the consent of one party only. Clark sees a benefit in compiling this kind of hard evidence because she has seen many victims who come forward “get dragged through the mud.”

Likewise, she advises anyone who is being sexually harassed to keep close track of all infractions by the teacher, superior or anyone guilty of harassment.

“When you’re being sexually harassed, write down dates, what the person is doing – it’s important to log everything. It makes you more credible,” she said.

Clark also thinks fines or immediate investigations would curb the problem but she has had enough of waiting for the changes to come.

If we leave things like this up to politicians, nothing is going to change,” she said. “I’m a person who believes that you can’t sit around complaining and it’s not going to change unless something radical is done.”

To realize her dream of starting a sexual harassment resource, Clark is looking for a grant writer who can help her find funding to get off the ground. From there, she envisions an office where locals can visit to speak to someone directly but more importantly, a hotline where anyone – nationwide – can call to be matched up with someone who is willing to help.

“I want it to be a place where people can feel safe,” she said, explaining that many victims of harassment are individuals who seem the most vulnerable.

She sees herself in the trenches, so to speak, walking victims through the process because she can relate to their situation. Promising confidentiality and a willingness to listen, Clark has confidence her plans will soon pick up speed.

Anyone interested in assisting in Diane’s efforts, grant writers in particular, can contact her via e-mail at dianeclark1118@aol.com.