Policy on Hostile Conduct/Harassment at Conferences
Purpose and Scope of Policy
The Center for Inquiry (CFI) and its programs, the Committee for
Skeptical Inquiry and the Council for Secular Humanism, are educational
organizations. As part of our educational mission, we hold conferences
from time to time. To ensure that everyone attending our conferences is
able to participate in them fully, CFI and its affiliates are committed
to providing a safe and hospitable environment at our conferences.
Accordingly, CFI and its affiliates prohibit intimidating, threatening,
or harassing conduct during our conferences. This policy applies to
speakers, staff, volunteers, and attendees.
“Conferences” for purpose of this policy includes any educational
meeting or gathering organized or sponsored by CFI or its affiliates to
which nonemployees are invited. In other words, this policy applies to
local or regional meetings, not just national conferences.
This policy supplements the policy on harassment set forth in the CFI
employee handbook, which governs the conduct of CFI staff; it does not
replace or supersede that policy.
Prohibited Conduct
In general, prohibited conduct includes any abusive conduct that has the
purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with another person’s
ability to enjoy and participate in the conference, including social
events related to the conference.
Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to, yelling at or
threatening speakers or attendees, or any significantly disruptive
conduct. By way of example, repeated interruption of a speaker by an
attendee is prohibited.
Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to, harassment based on
race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected
group status, as provided by local, state, or federal law. By way of
example, abusive conduct directed at someone because of their race is
prohibited.
Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to, sexual harassment.
By way of example, unwelcome sexual attention, stalking, and physical
contact such as pinching, grabbing, or groping are prohibited.
Critical examination of beliefs, including critical commentary on
another person’s views, does not, by itself, constitute hostile conduct
or harassment. One of the underlying rationales of this policy is to
promote the free exchange of ideas, not to inhibit it.
Consequences of Hostile or Harassing Conduct
CFI and its affiliates have a zero-tolerance policy for hostile and
harassing conduct. If a person engages in hostile or harassing conduct,
appropriate remedial action will be taken, which may include, but is not
limited to, expulsion from the conference. Threats of hostile conduct
that are made prior to a conference may result in exclusion from the
conference.
The exact remedy for hostile or harassing conduct will depend on an
evaluation of all relevant circumstances, such as the severity of the
conduct and prior violations by the person engaging in prohibited
conduct.
When there is a reasonable basis for believing the conduct is illegal, appropriate law enforcement authorities will be notified.
Reporting Hostile or Harassing Conduct; Investigations
Persons who are the targets of, or witnesses to, hostile or harassing
conduct should contact conference staff. At smaller meetings, conference
staff, including the person(s) in charge of the meeting, will be
introduced at the beginning. At larger conferences, conference staff
will wear identification and/or will be identified in the conference
program.
At larger conferences, phone numbers for hotel/venue staff, local law
enforcement, and local emergency medical personnel will be provided to
conference attendees to facilitate prompt response to complaints and/or
requests for assistance.
Reports of hostile or harassing conduct will be promptly addressed. On
some occasions, where conference staff are witnesses to the prohibited
conduct, immediate remedial action may be taken. Where a report of
hostile or harassing conduct is made to conference staff after the
conduct has occurred, reasonable measures will be taken to establish the
facts. This will typically include discussion with witnesses, if any,
and the person accused of engaging in the prohibited conduct. Inquiries
into hostile or harassing conduct will be carried out as confidentially
as possible given the circumstances.
Record-Keeping
CFI and its affiliates will make a written record of all
complaints/incidents as soon as practicable. These records will be used
in connection with implementing this policy. These records will be
maintained in the Office of the President & CEO of CFI and will not
be disclosed to individuals outside of the organization except as
required by law.
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