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At its May 22-24 meeting, the SAA Council discussed a draft "code of conduct" for SAA meetings and online spaces. From the discussion paper: "The ability of SAA members to participate fully in the various events hosted by SAA is a key component in the Society’s diversity and inclusion efforts. Members who feel unwelcome, unsafe, constrained, or silenced are not able to participate fully in SAA. A Code of Conduct is intended to provide one way for members to report harassment. It does not guarantee a harassment-free environment in SAA events and online spaces. However, a Code of Conduct does let members know that SAA is creating a culture of concern and establishing a place where members can participate freely in professional and social interaction, knowing that harassment is not part of that culture and will be opposed by all members of the SAA community."
The Council seeks broad member comment on the draft "SAA Code of Conduct" below. To comment on this draft: Log in and post comments publicly to the website, or send your comments via email with the subject line, "Code of Conduct," to saahq@archivists.org. Deadline: June 22, 2014, 5:00 pm Central time.
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SAA does not tolerate harassment in any form. In keeping with the core principles stated in its “Code of Ethics for Archivists” ** and “Equal Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Policy,” the Society of American Archivists is committed to providing a harassment-free environment for its members and others who participate in its conferences, events, meetings, and online spaces, regardless of age, color, creed, disability, family relationship, gender identity/expression, individual life style, marital status, national origin, physical appearance, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Harassment may include abusive verbal comments and/or discriminatory images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.
Conference, event, meeting, and online participants who are asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. Those who violate these rules may be expelled from the conference, event, or meeting at the discretion of the organizers or denied access to the online space at the discretion of the administrator.
If you feel that you are in immediate danger at any time during an SAA Annual Meeting or event, contact law enforcement (by dialing 911) or the facility front desk without delay. If you are not in immediate danger but feel that you are being harassed or that someone else is being harassed, or if you have other concerns, please contact the SAA Executive Director immediately.
At the SAA Annual Meeting: Go to the Onsite Registration Desk and ask the SAA staff member there to contact the Executive Director. You may be asked for a cell phone number at which the Executive Director can reach you.
At Other SAA Events/Meetings: Discuss your concerns with the presiding officer or instructor and/or contact the SAA Executive Director at 866-722-7858 or nbeaumont@archivists.org.
In SAA Online Spaces: Contact the administrator or the SAA Executive Director.
Content presented at SAA conferences or meetings or online may at times deal with sensitive subject matter, ranging from visually sensitive historical material (such as images related to acts of genocide) to sexually explicit language or images (such as in archival letters, nude photographs, or film or audio recordings). This policy is not intended to constrain scholarly or professional presentation, discourse, or debate, as long as these exchanges are conducted in a respectful manner.
* This draft policy is based on US OpenGLAM Friendly Space Policy (https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/US_OpenGLAM_Launch/Friendly_space_policy), which in turn is based on the Geek Feminism Wiki sample policy (http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Conference_anti-harassment_policy).
** See particularly “Archivists cooperate and collaborate with other archivists, and respect them and their institutions’ missions and collecting policies. In their professional relationships with donors, records creators, users, and colleagues, archivists are honest, fair, collegial, and equitable.”
Would someone please explain why this proposed code is needed? I may well be oblivious, but I have not witnessed the type of conduct it purportedly addresses.
I have witnessed some pretty heated exchanges at annual meetings, but they were debates--disagreements over professional and social issues which should never be mistaken for harrassment. I also note that I fit a couple of the protected profiles, but I have never felt that I required any special consideration.
Like Jordon, I see no huge need for it, but unlike Jordon, if it is not needed I do object because it would be nothing but fluff and I believe that SAA should concentrate on real issues. One commenter said that it should be on the registration form. But, is the form not already long enough? Adding it would come a a cost--perhaps a minor cost--but, still, a cost.
If someone can point out to actual instances of stalking, harrassment, diruptive behavior, etc. I can get aboard. But first, show me the evidence.
I approve of this code as written. Well done to all involved. It's proactive and I really liked that you tied it to the code of ethics and the equal opportunity policy. This will help the regionals make a case for their own codes. The fact that a draft was proposed helped the Northwest Archivists Board make a case and get member buy in (and approval) for our own CoC.
The only thing that I might add is a statement on the review process of this document. Is it annual or as needed? It will change; it has to. I think the real benefit of codes such as this is that it can be nimble. Building in a way for that to occur could help. Also, who would I contact if I had language suggestions 2 years down the road, the executive director? That might be another useful addition. The barrier between member and council can already seem like a brick wall.
josh z
Hi, I frankly see no huge need to have such a policy (unless there's some legal reason), but I also have no objection to its existence. Why not. However I think the way it is currently written (or the fact that it is being written at all) suggests that this type of behavior is currently an issue at SAA meetings and so it needs to be corrected. My impression is that this is not true, and I trust the authors would agree with me. In this regard, creating such a code of conduct for our organization has a different intent than, say, similar ones that have come up in the tech community, where I have been alarmed to read about episodes of misogyny, sexual harrassment, and all around obnoxious macho posturing happening at meetings. This is at odds with my impression attending SAA meetings, where I have found people to be unfailingly collegial and tolerant of all kinds of perspectives and orientations.
If you agree with the above, I would encourage you to revise your preface to include some language that makes explicit that this code of conduct is not meant to serve as a corrective to bad behavior, but, rather, codifies the spirit of tolerance and respect that SAA members have taken great effort to preserve. You don't want to send the signal that this code of conduct is a solution in search of a problem.
I'll add that I think nothing about the way this is written will serve to silence differences of opinion. I figure y'all thought a lot about that, so good job crafting the language in such a way.
I support the current draft of the CoC as it is written. If/when it is adopted, I would appreciate if it appears on the registration form for the annual meeting.
Code of Ethics and Conduct? Perhaps the code of ethics should be changed to include guidance on professional conduct in an outside venu such as Annual Meeting or in public discourse as in the SAA listserves rather than drafting a seperate document. I feel intimidated just reading the draft! What if you are having a bad day and decide to voice an unpopular opinion that is heard by others? Does that mean you are publically reprimanded? I think we should be more tolerant of each other and that SAA should not be the primary voice of special interest groups. There are other places for that. I attend conferences and workshops to learn about my profession. However, I do agree we should all be able to do that without fear of harm or intimidation. I am just not sure this document will do it.