The open exchange of ideas is central to the Allerton Conference’s mission. This requires an environment that embraces diversity and provides a safe, welcoming environment for all. We expect all participants in Allerton Conference activities to abide by this policy in all venues, including ancillary events and unofficial social gatherings:
- Exercise consideration and respect in your speech and actions;
- Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech;
- Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants;
- Alert community leaders if you notice a dangerous situation, someone in distress, or violations of this policy, even if they seem inconsequential.
Unacceptable Behavior
Unacceptable at any Allerton Conference activity is:
- Abuse: Any action directed at an individual that (a) interferes substantially with
- that person’s participation; or (b) causes that person to fear for his/her personal safety.
- This includes threats, intimidation, bullying, stalking, or other types of abuse.
- Discriminatory Harassment: Any conduct that discriminates or denigrates an individual on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, citizenship, nationality, age, sexual or gender identity, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law in the location where the ACM activity takes place.
- Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal/physical conduct of a sexual nature. Examples include (but are not limited to):
- unwelcome advances or propositions, particularly when one individual has authority over the other;
- inappropriate touching of an individual’s body;
- degrading or humiliating comments about an individual’s appearance;
- using an activity-related communication channel to display or distribute sexually explicit images or messages;
Unacceptable behaviors include, but are not limited to:
- intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory or demeaning speech or actions by any participant in ACM activities, at all related events and in one-on-one communications carried out in the context of ACM activities;
- offensive, degrading, humiliating, harmful, or prejudicial verbal or written comments or visual images related to gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, disability, age, appearance, or other personal characteristics;
- unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal/physical conduct of a sexual nature;
- inappropriate or gratuitous use of nudity, sexual images, or stereotyped images including using an activity-related communication channel to display or distribute sexually explicit or otherwise offensive or discriminatory images or messages;
- deliberate intimidation, stalking or following;
- harassing photography or recording;
- sustained disruption of talks or other events;
- unwelcome and uninvited attention or contact;
- physical assault (including unwelcome touch or groping);
- real or implied threat of physical harm;
- real or implied threat of professional or financial damage or harm.
Harassment can occur when there is no deliberate intention to offend. Be careful in the words that you choose. Harassment committed in a joking manner or disguised as a compliment still constitutes unacceptable behavior. Remember that sexist, racist, and other exclusionary jokes can be offensive to those around you.
Reporting and consequences
Any individual who experiences harassment (as described above) at any ACM activity is urged to report the harassment either to an Allerton Conference co-chair, or to the University of Illinois Title IX Coordinator (see http://wecare.illinois.edu/titleix/ ). Consequences for unacceptable behavior can include prohibition of individual from participating at future Allerton Conferences, and beyond, as described in the Title IX policy.
Based on policy of the Association for Computing Machinery