I want to get back to the legal ramifications of this. I had to take a training at each of the universities where I am teaching this fall -- and pass a quiz -- about harrassment in the workplace and schoolroom. Federal monies are at stake, not to mention the legal settlements.

It sounds like your workplace needs some harrassment training, pronto. This is not a little thing, and I am so glad that you are being kind and supportive of your coworker.