Code of Conduct

"Sunrise" by Randy Landicho is licensed under CC BY 2.0

All attendees, speakers, sponsors, and volunteers at our conference are required to agree with the following code of conduct. Organizers will enforce this code throughout the event. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everybody. Any questions regarding this code of conduct should be directed to the workshop organizers.

The Quick Version

PsyLinCS UTM is dedicated to providing a harassment-free environment for everyone, regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), nationality, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, (dis)ability, language (including dialect or linguistic proficiency), body size, or physical appearance. We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any conference venue, including talks, workshops, parties, Twitter, and other online media associated with the conference. PsyLinCS UTM participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the workshop at the discretion of the organizers.

The Less Quick Version

Harassment includes, but is not limited to, engaging in a course of comments or conduct that is known or ought to be known to be unwelcome. This particularly applies to comments or conduct related to race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, (dis)ability, language use, body size, or physical appearance. Harassment also includes deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, non-consensual photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. Displaying of sexual images in public spaces, sharing sexual images, or any other behaviour that otherwise contributes to a sexualized environment is considered inappropriate and will not be tolerated.

Participants asked to stop any harassing or inappropriate behavior are expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in harassing or inappropriate behavior, PsyLinCS UTM organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, up to and including expulsion from the conference.

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact one of the workshop organizers immediately. The organizers will be happy to help participants contact any services, provide assistance securing safe transportation, and otherwise take action to safeguard attendees’ rights to a safe and harassment-free environment for the duration of the workshop. We value the well-being of all PsyLinCS UTM attendees, and will endeavour to ensure that there are no barriers to your participation.

We expect all participants to follow these rules at conference and workshop venues as well as conference-related social events and social media.

Who do I contact?

Email: PsyLinCS.UTM@gmail.com

Members of the organizing committee:

  • Barend Beekhuizen (Dept. of Language Studies, UTM)
  • Craig Chambers (Dept. of Psychology, UTM)
  • Emily Clare (Dept. of Linguistics, UofT)
  • Elizabeth Johnson (Dept. of Psychology, UTM)
  • Jessamyn Schertz (Dept. of Language Studies, UTM)


Confused? Here are some Dos and Don’ts:

  • DO: Ask other participants before taking photos or videos of them or their work
  • DO: Ask permission before touching other participants
  • DO: Be aware that some participants may not be comfortable shaking hands with you
  • DO: Inform workshop organizers (and/or speak up yourself if you feel safe to do so) if you see something that goes against the spirit of this code of conduct
  • DO: Check on the well-being of your fellow conference attendees
  • DO: Check your laptop backgrounds, screensavers, presentation materials, browser tabs, and imagery or slogans on clothing to ensure that they are appropriate for the conference
  • DO: Respect other participants’ decisions about which talks, workshops, or events they choose to attend
  • DO: Make sure that your tweets and social media posts about the conference are in line with this policy
  • DON’T: Ask offensive or inappropriate questions, or make offensive or inappropriate comments
  • DON’T: Express judgement about other people's eating decisions