Harassment Policy
Definition of Harassment
Harassment is any form of behavior that is unwelcome, unreciprocated and unsolicited which makes an unpleasant, humiliating or intimidating environment for the person who is the target of that behavior.
To provide a safe and welcoming atmosphere for all club members and allow for a wide diversity of beliefs, lifestyles and morals, we will adopt and maintain the following behavior protocols.
If you mean NO — say NO.
If you hear NO — STOP!
If you witness someone having trouble saying or hearing NO — get involved using your best judgment.
If you see harassment, contact a club officer. If circumstances warrant, intervene as good judgment dictates until help arrives.
Saying NO
Sometimes out of politeness, people may not be direct when trying to communicate “no.” We need to make it okay to say “no” and mean “no.” Do not joke away, ignore, or minimize unwanted attention. Speak up right away and make your feelings clear. There is nothing wrong nor is there any shame in saying “no.”
Hearing NO
When someone says “no,” then all relevant actions, verbal and/or physical, must stop immediately. There should be no questions, clarifications, cajoling, debate, coercion or any continuation of any sort of the unwanted attentions. If someone tells you “no,” you will not wait for it to be repeated, and you will not retaliate in any way. It is understood that any continuation of the subject in question is incumbent upon the person saying “no” to initiate.
Witnessing an incomplete NO
There are times when we may be witness to someone struggling or unable to voice a “no,” or there may be someone who has not recognized that “no” was spoken. In either case, we have an obligation as convention attendees/club members to intercede in the situation to make sure all parties reach the correct understanding.
If there is a complaint issued against you
You will have no direct contact of any sort with the club members registering the complaint(s). This includes voice, written, electronic, and face-to-face contact. Inadvertent contact during the course of club and convention events is sometimes unavoidable, and must not be used as a method of initiating unwanted attention.