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, formal mentoring relationships, 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 SAA Executive Director or organizers or may be denied access to the online space at the discretion of the administrator or the SAA Executive Director. Persons who have been expelled or denied access may appeal to the SAA Executive Committee.
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 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.”
Adopted by the SAA Council: July 2014. Next review date: January 2016.