Code of Conduct
New England Science Boot Camp for Librarians Code of Conduct
Expected behavior of conference attendees
We expect attendees to foster a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment so everyone can participate in the conference fully. Any form of harassment or discrimination based on a person’s identity is unacceptable. Attendees must be mindful of their behavior, and will be held accountable for any violation of the Code of Conduct
To help make Science Boot Camp a welcoming experience for all, we ask attendees to be mindful and encourage the following behaviors:
listening as much as you speak, and remembering that colleagues may have expertise you are unaware of;
encouraging and yielding the floor to those whose viewpoints may be under-represented in a group;
using welcoming language, for instance by using an individual’s stated pronouns and favoring gender-neutral collective nouns (“people,” not “guys”);
accepting critique graciously and offering it constructively;
giving credit where it is due;
seeking concrete ways to make physical spaces and online resources more universally accessible; and
staying alert, as Active Bystanders, to the welfare of those around you.
Any unwelcome or offensive behavior that demeans or intimidates others, or any discriminatory behavior based on (for example) race, religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, body size or appearance, or physical or cognitive ability, is considered unacceptable and in violation of the Code of Conduct.
It is important to understand the range of behaviors that may constitute harassment. Harassment includes, but is not limited to:
Unwelcome or offensive verbal comments or nonverbal expressions related to: gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, individual lifestyles, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, national origin, employment or military status, physical or cognitive ability; political affiliation; or religion (or lack thereof)
Use of sexual and/or discriminatory images in public spaces (including online)
Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following
Harassing photography or recording
Sustained disruption of talks or other events
Inappropriate or unwelcome physical contact
Unwelcome sexual attention
Bullying behavior
Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior
Bystander intervention
If you witness behavior that might be harmful and you feel like you can safely intervene, some options include:
Check in with the person experiencing harassment if possible--they may want to handle the situation themselves.
Interrupt the situation or help the person relocate to a safer space.
Work with others nearby to help out together, or at least provide more witnesses.
Confront the harasser if it is safe to do so.
Do not escalate the situation.
As long as everyone is physically safe, the planning committee will address the behavior with the participant. Committee members will involve law enforcement or security only as a last resort or at a victim’s request. If you do feel your safety is in jeopardy, you can contact local law enforcement by dialing 911.
If you are unable to intervene in the moment, check in with the person who was harassed afterward. You can ask if they are ok, express your support, and listen to them.
If you are witnessing a situation there are different ways to respond based on your comfort level. Read more about the 5Ds: Distract, Delegate, Document, Delay, and Direct at Right To Be.
Anyone can use the 5Ds! They are designed to be safe and not to escalate situations. In fact, four of them are indirect methods of intervention.
Reporting process
If you experience or witness any unacceptable behaviors, you can:
Contact a committee member directly
Committee members will be wearing blue buttons with ‘Code of Conduct’ written on them.
In your report, try to include as much descriptive information as you can. Committee members will be happy to address the issue. Please be aware that reporting an incident anonymously means that committee members cannot follow up with you directly.
No matter how you report the incident or behavior, your report will only be seen by the committee members reviewing the incident, in most cases. Keep in mind that Science Boot Camp events are held at academic institutions subject to Title IX regulations. If a situation arises where we are required to report something to University officials or to law enforcement, we will consult with you first (if possible) to discuss your options and what is required of us. If you report, you will not be asked to confront anyone, and you are welcome to ask us for referrals to confidential sources of assistance such as counseling services or an ombudsperson.
Enforcement
When a report is made SBC committee members will document the report and follow up with the person reporting (unless they have reported anonymously). If possible, the committee will then work with the person reporting to determine the appropriate actions to take.
Sanctions might include anything from a warning to being asked to leave the conference, and if necessary, committee members will contact the proper authorities.
UMass Dartmouth-Specific Support Contact Info
If you need support or are supporting someone following an incident, a committee member can contact any of these service providers on your behalf or stay with you while you call.
Keep in mind there are a lot of good reasons why someone may not feel comfortable with medical responders and/or law enforcement being called. Check in with the person experiencing the problem if you can, and do your best to act in accordance with their wishes.
UMass Dartmouth Police: (508) 999-9191
Emergency: 911
University Health Services: (508)999-8982
RN telephone advice service: (508)815-4588
Counseling Center Crisis Hotline: (508)910-HELP
Title IX Complaint - witness report form
Title IX Complaint - victim report form
Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: (508) 999-8810
Acknowledgements
The following documents were instrumental for developing this Code of Conduct: