Code of Conduct

Attendees of the 2023 Bash Symposium are expected to behave respectfully and professionally throughout the conference. The Bashfest organizers are dedicated to providing a safe experience for everyone.

Harassment in any form will not be tolerated. As defined by the AAS Code of Ethics, this unacceptable behavior includes:

Harassment:

Behaviors that, if engaged in because of race, religion, color, gender, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity expression, or any other protected class, may give rise to a hostile work environment in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or other applicable laws. These include, but are not limited to, the following: verbal harassment (e.g., comments that are offensive or unwelcome, including epithets, slurs, teasing, and stereotyping), nonverbal harassment (e.g., obscene gestures; distribution, display, or discussion of inappropriate written or graphic material or material that ridicules, denigrates, insults, belittles, or shows hostility or disrespect toward an individual or group), or physical harassment, including unwelcome, unwanted physical contact (e.g., physical assault or violating an individual’s personal space).

Sexual Harassment:

Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. There are generally two types of sexual harassment:

  • “Quid pro quo” harassment, where submission or refusal to submit to unwelcome sexual attention, requests for sexual favors, and/or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature affects decisions such as preferential treatment, hiring, or promotions.
  • “Hostile work environment,” where the harassment creates an offensive and unpleasant working environment. Hostile work environment often includes sexually oriented conduct that is sufficiently pervasive or persistent so as to unreasonably interfere with an individual’s job performance or has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment. A hostile work environment can also result from a single egregious act.

Sexually oriented conduct can include verbal sexual harassment (e.g., innuendoes, suggestive comments, jokes of a sexual nature, sexual propositions, lewd remarks), nonverbal sexual harassment (e.g., the distribution, display, or discussion of sexually oriented written or graphic material), or physical sexual harassment (e.g., unwelcome, unwanted, unrequested, or uninvited physical contact)[1]. Such behaviors may also give rise to a hostile educational environment for students, in violation of Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972.

Bullying:

Bullying is defined as unwelcome or unreasonable behavior that demeans, intimidates, humiliates, or sabotages the work of people, either as individuals or as a group. Bullying behavior is most often aggressive, persistent, and part of a pattern, but it can also occur as a single egregious incident. It is usually carried out by an individual but can also be an aspect of group behavior. Exercising appropriate authority, directing the work of others pursuant to their job responsibilities, and respectful scientific debate are not considered bullying behavior.

Examples of bullying behaviors include, but are not limited to, verbal bullying (e.g., threatening, slandering, ridiculing, or maligning a person; making abusive or offensive remarks), physical bullying (e.g., pushing, poking, assaulting, threatening assault, or damaging a person’s work area or property), gesture bullying (e.g., nonverbal threatening gestures), or sabotaging an individual’s work.

ENFORCEMENT

Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.

If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the Bashfest organizers reserve the right to take actions that keep the event a welcoming environment for all participants. Actions conference organizers may take range from warnings to expulsion from the conference with no refund.

Conference organizers may also redress anything with the clear impact of disrupting the event or making the environment hostile for any participants. We expect participants to follow these rules at all event venues and event-related social activities.

REPORTING

If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, or you would like to tell us about any other concern (including accessibility), please report it as soon as possible in one of the following ways:

  • In person reporting to one of the following organizers: Brianna Lacy, Hanshin Lee, Jed McKinney, Jenna Samuel, Kalyn Williams, Keith Hawkins, Lauren Biddle, or Yifan Zhou.
    When taking a personal report, our staff will ensure you are safe and cannot be overheard. They may involve other conference organizers, event staff, or UT personnel to ensure your report is managed properly. Once safe, we'll ask you to tell us about what happened. This can be upsetting, but we'll handle it as respectfully as possible, and you can bring someone to support you. You won't be asked to confront anyone. 
  • Via email to our chairs (bash2023organizers@gmail.com).

Please note that because of UT mandatory reporting rules on Title IX matters, we may not be able to maintain full confidentiality of any report.

Our organizing committee can contact hotel/venue security, local law enforcement, local support services, and provide escorts should you need their assistance. We value you and will be happy to help you in feeling safe for the duration of the event.

Outside resources:

 

Enforcement and reporting violations of the Code of Conduct was adapted from the Bashfest 2019 Code of Conduct.