S-USIH affirms its commitment to ensuring a respectful, supportive, and inclusive environment that fosters scholarly exchange and promotes the building of professional networks at our conferences, sponsored events, and across various media platforms. We seek to provide a conference environment in which attendees can participate regardless of age, color, citizenship status, national origin, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability status, economic status, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, nationality, political affiliation, professional status, student status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law or used historically to marginalize, exploit, or exclude peoples.
We do not tolerate harassment or bullying in any form. Those who violate the Society’s harassment policy will be asked to modify their behavior. Those who refuse to do so will be asked to leave the event. They may be banned from participating in future events and barred from contributing on social media platforms.
Forms of harassment may include but are not limited to abusive or discriminatory language that creates an offensive or hostile environment; deliberate intimidation, stalking, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. Bullying may include but is not limited to attempts to privately intimidate or publicly humiliate someone or malign their character. Bullying is distinct from a sharp scholarly critique of ideas and is instead aimed at causing personal distress and/or social harm to its victims.
Retaliation against an individual who has complained about harassment will not be tolerated.
Any participant at a Society sponsored event who experiences or witnesses conduct that violates the Society’s harassment policy is encouraged (but not obligated) to report the incident. We encourage timely reporting but understand that it might not always be possible. We therefore will take up ex post facto allegations of policy violations. Confidentiality will be protected to the extent that the law permits.
If a person believes they have been wrongly found to be in violation of the Society’s policy and as a result of that finding has been expelled from an event or otherwise denied access to the Society’s programs and activities, they may appeal in writing to the executive committee.
Members of the executive committee include the president, the administrator, the secretary, the treasurer, the director of publications, and the current and upcoming conference chairs.
This policy is in effect at officially sponsored S-USIH events, such as lectures, panel discussions, roundtables, plenary sessions, conference book exhibits, luncheons, and receptions.
The processes and mechanisms for reporting and adjudication will be in place by and made available at the November 2018 conference.
Sarah E. Gardner, S-USIH President
on behalf of the S-USIH Executive Committee