SPE Code of Conduct

EVENT CODE OF CONDUCT

All attendees, speakers, sponsors, vendors, partners, SPE staff, and volunteers at ANTEC® and its events, or any SPE event that is virtual or live, are required to adhere to the following Code of Conduct. Event organizers will enforce this Code throughout the SPE events.

Our aim in hosting an SPE event is to build a stronger community. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels welcome to participate, speak up, ask questions, and engage in conversation. This requires a harassment-free and inclusive environment that recognizes the inherent worth of every participant. We invite all those who participate in an SPE event to help us create a safe and positive experience for everyone.

We are dedicated to providing a harassment-free environment for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity, and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), marital status, nationality, political affiliation, ability status, educational background, or any other characteristic protected by law. We do not tolerate harassment of participants in any form. Harassment includes but is not limited to inappropriate or intimidating behavior and language, unwelcome jokes or comments, unwanted touching or attention, offensive images, photography without permission, and stalking. Disruptive or harassing behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. Sexual language and imagery are inappropriate during any event/conference, including talks, workshops, parties, and social media such as Twitter, or other online media.

Following a Code of Conduct allows SPE to create the best experience possible for all attendees.

Click to expand the categories below.

Exercise consideration and respect in your speech and actions.
Attempt collaboration before conflict.
Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech.
Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants. Alert SPE staff if you notice a dangerous situation, someone in distress, or violations of this Code of Conduct, even if they seem inconsequential.
While at an SPE event, no participant should engage in harassment in any form.

[1] Harassment, bullying, microaggressions, intimidation, and/or insinuations that are hurtful or interfere with any other attendee’s experience or participation are unacceptable behaviors. Examples of unacceptable behavior include but are not limited to the following:

[2] Microaggressions are verbal, behavioral, or environmental slights, indignity, or snub – intentional or unintentional – that demeans, invalidates the experience of, expresses a prejudiced or discriminatory attitude, or communicates hostility or a negative message towards a marginalized group.

Demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior or speech, including but not limited to personal insults, sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, ageist or ableist language or any language that insults or demeans the characteristics of a person protected under U.S. federal, state or local law.
Inappropriate physical contact; you should have someone's consent before touching them.
Language that implies exclusion or derogation of a person on the basis of the person's immutable characteristic; for example, asking a participant where they are “really from”; assuming a person's spouse or partner is of the opposite gender; deliberately using the wrong pronoun to refer to an individual.
Unwelcome sexual attention, including sexualized comments or jokes, inappropriate touching, groping, or sexual advances.
Deliberate intimidation, stalking or following.
Sustained disruption, including during talks and presentations.
Displaying sexually explicit or violent material including in presented materials (e.g. slides, presentations, talks) or in informal settings or on personal devices (e.g. on your phone).
Violence, threats of violence, or violent language directed against another person or group.
Possession of dangerous or unauthorized materials such as explosives, firearms, weapons, or similar items.
Bullying including repeated verbal abuse; verbal, non-verbal, or physical conduct of a threatening, intimidating, or humiliating nature; or the sabotage or undermining of a person's performance.
Theft, inappropriate removal, or possession of the property.
Use, distribution, sale, or transfer of illegal drugs.
Any other illegal activity or forms of harassment not covered above.

Sanctions may range from a verbal warning to ejection from the meeting without refund, to notifying appropriate authorities. Retaliation for complaints of inappropriate conduct will not be tolerated. If a participant observes inappropriate comments or actions and personal intervention seems appropriate and safe, they should be considerate of all parties before intervening. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.

Reporting an Incident

Alert SPE staff if you notice or experience a dangerous situation or a violation of this Code of Conduct, or see someone in distress even if it seems inconsequential during the event.

You can report the incident through one of the following ways: